Supplement your Detox

We are half way through December! Time to check up on your cleanse. You've cut out all those toxic foods Dr. Amanda Baten shared with you last week(or pondered it at least). Dr. Amanda Baten recommends some supplements to support your ongoing detox activities:

1.    A good multi vitamin. This should be taken two times a day. Rainbow Light or Natural Factors are recommended and are targeted for gender. 

2.    Distilled Essential fatty acids. At The Center for Integrative practices, we use clean professional products, but a good mainstream product for your home is Nordic Naturals.

3.    Dandelion teas. Other herbal teas such as mint and chamomile also support the detox process.

4.    Milk thistle. This has been thought to aid in repairing damage to your liver but milk thistle can also affect the metabolism of medications, including birth control pills, so be aware.           

Detox with Dr. Amanda Baten

Detox December is underway! For the next couple of weeks,  Dr. Amanda Baten will be blogging  her knowledge and advice on detoxing.

And now, our guest blogger  Dr. Amanda Baten on the first steps to detoxification:

Cleansing can happen in several ways; fasting, juicing, or eliminating foods and drinks that build up in the system.  We recommend all three, but done in steps and supported by your physician or health practitioner.

Let’s start this week with an elimination diet:

1. Avoid the following: sugar, caffeine, wheat, gluten, dairy, alcohol, drugs
2. Transform to a diet rich in raw fruits and vegetables, with a significant reduction in the intake of processed foods.
3. Start the day with warm water and lemon.  Then have glass of filtered water with 1 tbsp of psyllium husks and a ½ tsp of chlorophyll.
4. Use a body brush (you can purchase this at whole foods) every morning for 10 mins.  Brush towards the trunk and up. This creates detoxification through the lymph nodes.  Remember that skin is an organ of elimination.
5. Switch to organic products.
6. Alter your animal intake. Try leaner meats that are organic, free range, and without hormones or antibiotics.
7. Reduce fish intake and avoid the big fish like tuna, large mackerel, swordfish, and shark.
8. Read labels carefully.  Avoid processed food, dyes, and chemicals.

Here are a list of foods that will promote the elimination diet and support cleansing:

1.     Beets – an excellent source of betaine, which supports detoxification in the intestines, blood, and liver. It is also a great anti-oxidant.

2.   Lemon and Orange Peels – these aid the liver in neutralizing carcinogens 

3.    Chicory, Endive, Radicchio – these greens promote discharge into the GI tract of bile,  a substance that assists in carrying away toxins. 

4.    Cruciferous Vegetables – cauliflower, broccoli, and brussel sprouts help the liver detoxify chemicals, drugs, pollutants. 

5.    Raisins – lessen the burden on the liver by stimulating the kidneys and clearing out poisons in the gut. 

6.    Oatmeal, Apples, Pears, Strawberries, Peas, and Beans – provide soluble fiber to soak up toxins in the intestines and escort them out of the body. 

7.    Asparagus, Avocados, Potatoes (boiled in their skins), Raw Spinach, Okra, Walnuts, and Chicken –  aid in the removal of fat soluble toxins. 

What are the outcomes of a detox diet? You will feel revitalized!  Expect radiance, vitality, and energy, as well as clear skin and better sleep.  Equally as important is increased immunity, better focus and concentration, decreased depression and anxiety, greater self regard by nuturing and taking care of yourself! The other benefits are combating depression, which is affected by a sluggish liver. Our body, mind, and emotions are all influenced by the foods we eat and the toxins that we take into our bodies.

Detox December

New Years is typically the time people decide to get a fresh start, get rid of bad habits and start making healthier life choices. At The Center, we recommend getting a head start on New Years resolutions with detox December! There are so many ways to detox, and this December we will be sharing with you our favorite ways to do it. A detox diet usually means cutting out processed foods with high chemical content and replacing these foods with raw, organic foods, water and cleansing spices. It is a process that requires discipline but  has revealed many extraordinary results.

Next week, Dr. Amanda Baten will be providing some of her favorite detox tips right here. Stay Tuned!

Many, Many Thanks

Hey there friends of The Center! We just wanted to first thank everyone who came to the art opening and meet-and-greet last Saturday. What a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon. The combination of the peaceful atmosphere at The Center, the good company, the beautiful art and the sample services provided by Shelley Poovey, Michael Grego and Dr. Noam Sadovnik made for a wonderful event. We had a great time, Thank you!

On the subject of thanks, this happens to be the week for it. After a long week of family and food, it's time to take a moment to relax. Life is hectic, but the holidays shouldn't have to be. Take some tips from our practitioners who shared what they like to do to relax: 

Maya Carlet stays likes to stay active through yoga, outdoor recreation and dance but also loves to cook. "Finding time to create healthy and nourishing meals is extremely important way for me to de-stress and to support my own health and wellbeing."

Dr. Jada Turco chooses exercise as her stress relief activity. "Any kind of exercise first thing in the morning, walking, yoga, going for a hike, especially in the fall."

Shelley Poovey recommends meditation. "I love to meditate. I spend at least a half an hour a day or more meditating. I have a technique for breathing into my heart that cultivates an overall sense of peace and gratitude. I use it when I run and work out as well. I find that working this way keeps my stress levels low and a positive outlook more available to me throughout the day."

Whatever happened this Thanksgiving, take a little time for yourself, and you'll be better able to appreciate your friends and family. Hope you had a happy and healthy Thanksgiving! 

Art Opening at The Center!

You've gotten to know what The Center is all about, now it's time to see it in action! This coming Saturday, November 17th, The Center will be hosting and art opening featuring the artwork of Ben Hotchkiss and Roger Ricco. The Center's practitioners will be there offering sample services. Wine will be served. Sound like a great way to spend you Saturday afternoon? It is. Please RSVP to our facebook event or by respond to our evite. We hope to see you there!

From Acupuncture and traditional Chinese herbal medicine, craniosacral and trigger point therapy, to myofascial release and chinese therapeutic massage, Maya Carlet does it all. In her new interview featured on The Center for Integrative Practice's website, Maya shares how she treats pain, dermatological issues, stress, sleep and digestive disorders. "The body and all of it’s systems are programmed to return to a state of balance and health, and when we address the whole person we can help the body return to its natural state of health. " 

Want to learn more about Maya's work? Check out this article on the New York Times website that explains how Acupuncture can assist in relieving pain.

For more information on The Center for Integrative please visit our website or like us on Facebook. More events and updates coming soon!

Holistic Medicine with Dr. Jada Turco

Dr. Jada Turco truly epitomizes holistic medicine with her multi faceted practice. Dr. Turco combines traditional and holistic approaches while practicing psychiatry and neurology. Dr. Turco explains her practice in her new interview on The Center for Integrative Practice's website: “My focus is on nutrition, diet, nutraceuticals and the use of supplements and other complementary approaches in lieu of or combined with traditional psychotropic medications and treatments. I also offer psychotherapy which is influenced by my training in psychoanalysis, attachment theory, mind-body medicine, interpersonal neurobiology and metaphysics.” For more information and to read the full interview Visit Dr. Turco's page on The Center's website. 

Shelley Poovey talks BodyTalk

More Website Updates! This week, The Center for Integrative Practices has a new interview with Shelley Poovey who practices The Pilates Method of Conditioning and The BodyTalk System at The Center . What is BodyTalk you ask? Shelley says "We can use the basic techniques of focus, intention, breathing, and movement or light touch to restore balance. Pilates does this through a focused method of body conditioning, and BodyTalk does this by allowing me to be guided to the area in need of attention and then applying the appropriate BodyTalk technique. Both are very effective, very gentle, completely non-invasive, and not contraindicated with any other treatments." Shelley has shared this helpful link to The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Healthcare where you can learn more about BodyTalk and the future of alternative medicine. Keep checking our facebook page and our website. for more updates and upcoming events!

The Center welcomes Jennifer Warner

A warm welcome to our newest practitioner,  clinical social worker and psychotherapist Jennifer Warner! Jennifer has a unique approach to health and wellness that fits with the center's mission. Jennifer explains, “My approach is insight-oriented, practical, and holistic: assist clients to heal both their minds and bodies through the understanding of the impact of life experience on behavior, and building the skills to effect real change in their own physical, nutritional, and mental health.” For more information on Jennifer Warner, check out her new page on The Center's website and her full interview here.

Artist in Residence: Ben Hotchkiss

The Center is proud to feature the unique work of Ben Hotchkiss, curated by the Ricco Maresca Gallery. Ben's work has an imaginative and playful quality that is reflected through his skillful technique. His vibrant artwork is displayed throughout The Center, giving our visitors a feeling of happiness that his artwork exudes. All of the Artwork is for sale through the Ricco Maresca Gallery. Visit The Center for Integrative Practices website for more information.

Fall is Delicious

It's hard to remember that New York City is part of a state abound with farms, but it is, and fortunately all city dwellers can take advantage of it. Right now happens to be the best time of the year to do just that as the fall harvest reveals some of the healthiest and most versatile produce of the year:  beans, squash, apples, herbs, tomatoes, beets and greens. As the weather get's colder, as it inevitably does in New York, it is easy to start eating more comforting and less healthy foods. Fortunately, fall foods are so versatile, they can become your comfort food. Squash is a great example of this. Squash contains essential vitamins and minerals that maintain cellular structure to keep your bones and ligaments healthy. It also happens to be delicious baked with some olive oil, salt, pepper, and some rosemary. Take advantage of these foods while they are in season. The Center for Integrative Practices encourages everyone to find there local famers markets for the freshest produce  in New York City. There are markets all over Manhattan that you can find here.

Next week, we will be featuring our newest practitioner, Social worker and Psychotherapist Jennifer Warner. Have a happy and healthy week and stay tuned!

Make Your Week Stress Free

Relaxation is an important part of keeping your body and mind healthy. It can be hard to remember to take the time to relax, especially in the city that never sleeps. At The Center for Integrative Practices, our practitioners support a healthy amount of relaxation everyday. For some relaxation tips, we asked our practitioners what they do to unwind. Micheal  Grego said: 

'Confucius said, "do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life." I get the best stress relief by doing what I love, helping people with massage and other techniques that help restore them to their maximum potential. After that I enjoy being outdoors, meditation and contemplation.' 

It can be difficult to find  meditative spaces in New York City, so here are a list of five public spaces that we find relaxing in Manhattan:

1) Sheep Meadow in Central Park 

2) Bryant Park and The New York Public Library

3) Riverside Park

4) Stuyvesant Cove

5) Battery Park 

For more information on The Center for Integrative Practices, check out our website or facebook page. 

Have a stress-free week!

Interview with Michael Grego

More website updates! Michael Grego, LMT, Massage, Manual and Neuromuscular therapist at The Center for Integrative Practices talks about the versatility of his practice and what inspired him to get into integrative health in this new interview featured on The Center for Integrative Practices' website: 

"Michael’s empathy gives him a unique approach to therapy and he understands that a patient needs more than a massage to get back on their feet. His practice is two-fold: 'Traditional massage is the best choice for stress relief or to get more from your Chiropractic adjustment.  For those that have pain, structural or functional problems and want results as fast as possible, patients have the option of an Integrative Manual Therapy approach.'" Read more here

Look for more interviews from our other practitioners coming soon!

Helpful Links to Kick Start September!

Hope you had a great Labor day! As the summer winds down, here are some good websites to look at to kick start your September:

Dr. Amanda Baten has recommended you check out Dr. Andrew Weil's take on the Glycemic Index. The Glycemic Index is a way of ranking carbohydrates based on the rise in circulating blood sugar a carbohydrate triggers. Monitoring which kinds of carbohydrates you eat is an important step in helping you achieve good physical and mental health. Dr. Weil's website gives you an overview of what the Glycemic Index is and how to effectively use it. 

If you're in a lot of pain after a summer of working out and walking the city streets (like me),  Licensed Massage Therapist Michael Gregor who practices massage and manual therapy at The Center for Integrative Practices recommends you check out NMT Center. Here you can learn about the benefits of neuromuscular therapy on your sore muscles and on your nervous system. Neuromuscular therapy also examines nutrition and emotional well being, making it a holistic take on massage. 

Keep checking in with The Center for Integrative Practices for more updates and helpful tips on improving your body, mind and soul!

Interview with Dr. Amanda Baten

Website Updates: Dr. Amanda Baten talks about her Clinical and Nutritional Psychology practice and explains why it's important to approach health care from a holistic standpoint in this new interview posted on The Center for Integrative Practice's website:

"What Dr. Baten has created with The Center of Integrative Practices is an approach to holistic medicine that takes every aspect of a patient’s life into consideration to find a specialized combination of treatments that works for each individual visitor." Read more here. 

Dr. Baten will also be featured on "The Dr. Holly Show" on the Veria network this coming fall 2012. Check back for more updates soon!

Welcome!

Welcome to the new blog for The Center for Integrative Practices! We are an integrative wellness and holistic health center located in the heart of Manhattan at 1201 Broadway. Our practitioners work together to provide individualized care to each visitor to The Center. Here we will share all of our latest news, updates to our website, events and things we think you should know about. For more information on The Center, please check out our website or follow us on facebook.