Whole Food Supplements

No I'm not talking about the lovely grocery store Whole Foods. I'm talking about supplements categorized as 'whole food supplements' or 'raw food supplements'. Instead of chemically derived supplements that you may encounter at the corner drug store or your basic supermarket, there is a surge in multivitamins on the market that are made from actual foods. You aren't taking a pill that had vitamins and minerals derived in a lab and molded into a pill; you can take a supplement that is basically real food, just densely packed.

This is a better way to get nutrients since the body does not absorb all the nutrients in the basic old-style multivitamin. With whole food supplements you are absorbing more, because let's face it, it's food and your body knows how to digest it. That is why when I consider nutritional therapy for my patients I always put them on a whole food supplement. This is to offset any potential nutritional deficiencies that might be inherent to their constitution.

Everyone is different and one can never be certain if the underlying problem is just not enough omega 3's, vitamin B's or magnesium. When you throw in stress and an inclination to get sick, then you will most certainly need more supplementation than normal.

Not all whole food supplements are equal and the one I prescribe for my patients is not available over the counter, only through health care providers. But there are other options out there, and one that I have tried and like is the Alive brand of supplements. So if you are interested in being proactive with your health and are already taking a multivitamin, I recommend trying a whole food supplement.

Hydrate Yourself!

We don't always realize when we are thirsty. Did you know that when you get the conscious thought of being thirsty, you are extremely dehydrated on the cellular level? Combined with the torrential heat of mid-summer sun and being more physically active and outdoors and we are more easily dehydrated even though we drink the same amount. So we must stay diligent to hydrate ourselves!

I have a few tasty, caffeine-free suggestions and recipes for one to consider. First, coconut water is an excellent choice to get hydrated. Then we look at flavored waters as a great way to consume more water without being bored. It is when you add a splash of flavor to water with something light (not sugar). Then we look at one of my favorite things in the world: aquas frescas. It is a traditional Mexican fruit drink made of melons, lemons or limes and more exotic flavors such as flor de jamaica (hibiscus), horchata (cinnamon rice flavor) and even tamarind.

Coconut water: this delightful beverage from the young coconut has natural electrolytes, potassium in particular, packing over 500 mg per 8 oz. serving. To get that much with bananas you will need to eat two! It is not too sweet so low in calories and you don't have to go out and buy an actual young coconut to get it. The popularity has increased to the point where health food stores have plenty of brands to choose fresh coconut water.

Fruit water: very refreshing and easy to put together. Take a pitcher and put in fresh slices of oranges and apples. Pour a few liters of fresh spring or filtered water on top and stick it in the fridge for at least an hour before serving.

Cucumber water: this is a traditional spa refreshment. Take a medium cucumber, peel and slice thinly and add to a pitcher. Pour up to a gallon of fresh spring or filtered water on top and stick it in the fridge for about an hour before serving.

Melon Fresca: Choose your favorite melon, whether it is watermelon, cantaloupe or honeydew and grab your blender. Have 2 cups of your melon chopped and ready to put in your blender. Then add 2 cups of cold water. You can add the juice of half a lime (1 tablespoon) and crushed ice but that is optional. Blend and enjoy!

These are just a few of the refreshing options out there. It's a great starting point and I'll be sure to add more in the upcoming weeks. I am always up for trying a new recipe and combing others. Be adventurous and take care to stay cool and hydrated under the tutelage of the sun. :))

Summer Fire

I have always held a strong belief in food as medicine and knew that if we took care of ourselves with what we ingest on a daily basis we would take care of over 50% of chronic disease in this country. This led me to herbal medicine and food therapy and getting back to our roots where we are not only in balance within ourselves, but also with nature. I like to call it nature sync.

Nature sync is another way of saying acclimating to the seasons, to the weather and climate we are in will bring us into balance. Living in Houston, we have to adjust to sweltering heat, intense humidity and there are a few things we can do to adjust to the dog days of summer. How many of us bring cardigans and sweaters into offices since even though it may be a blazing outside the A/C can be at over a 30 degree difference causing us relief at first from the sweltering sun, but then we eventually become chilled.

This difference in temperature causes a stress on the body and makes it easier for some to catch the pesky summer cold. When the seasons change it can cause a stress response in the body due to the adjustment, whether it’s warmer, cooler, more dry or damp. Some people have allergies others catch a cold more easily when this occurs. The same thing happens in the body at the cellular and energetic level.

With yin and yang theory, summer time is more yang in nature. More robust, warm, strong, bright, light and creative. The element it is most in tune with is fire. Summer time is a time when you should wake up with the sun and be outside often and use that extra boost of energy to be creative and see your projects through. That is the best way to be in harmony with the natural energy of fire.

Regarding the diet, there is an abundance of variety at this time and one should take advantage! Cook lightly and even add a little spicy, since the spice will disperse the heat in the body to the surface of the skin to be released more readily. When the body intakes spicy food and mirrors the heat present outside then the body will be less affected. Examples of spice in food are red and green hot peppers, cayenne red pepper, fresh ginger, horseradish and black pepper. But one should not overdo spicy for it can weaken the natural yang in the body and the result is not being able to warm itself when the cooler seasons are upon us.

Interestingly enough, one shouldn't overdo the ice cold foods, since cold causes contraction and eating iced drinks and super cold foods will contract the stomach and stop digestion. It is a better idea to eat cool, refreshing foods, such as salads and sprouts, fruit, tofu and flowery or leafy teas such as chrysanthemum, mint and chamomile. Cool vegetables include cucumber, celery and fruits are watermelon, apples, lemons and limes. A traditional Chinese summer heat remedy is mung bean soup or a tea, which helps cool the body down if overwhelmed by the heat.

That's also why it is important to intake plenty of fluids at this time and avoid really rich, greasy foods. They will cause sluggishness and trap the heat inside the body making you feel worse overall. These foods include: meat, eggs, excess nuts, seeds and grains.

It is natural to eat less and lightly on hot, bright days. We force ourselves to eat the same all year round to our detriment. The seasons change and so should we to get ourselves more in balance with Earth's natural rhythms.