Remember the Sun

I'm sure you have all noticed that it's been getting colder in the city! Stay healthy and remember sunnier days with some of our favorite green smoothie recipes:

Strawberry + Banana + Romaine
This recipe is a twist on the classic strawberry/ banana. Add a little romaine for extra hydration. 1 cup strawberries, 2 bananas, 6-7 leaves of romaine, 2 cups water, blend.

Peach + Spinach
Sure to blast you right back to summer. 6 peaches, 2 handfuls of spinach leaves, 2 cups of water, blend.

Mango + Weeds
Sending you mentally to the tropics with a kick! 2 Mangos and 1 handful of weeds (lambsquarters, stinging nettles, purslane etc.), blend and enjoy.

Recipes from The Copperhead Resort and Spa courtesy of Dr. Amanda Baten.

The Benefits of Chinese Herbal Medicine

You could say that Chinese herbal medicine is a time-tested technique. It has been around for thousands of years, and this form of therapy doesn't seem to be going out of style any time soon. In fact, this ancient remedy seems to be getting more and more popular as research continues to find applications for it. Maya Carlet who practices Chinese herbal medicine at The Center for Integrative Practices has shared this article on the benefits of the traditional therapy on dermatological conditions. Other applications include treating stress, physical pain, sleep disorders and helping with digestion. Check out The Center for more information regarding therapy and integrative treatment methods.

Dr. Amanda Baten's Top Juice Cravings

With so many fruits and vegetables to choose form,  it can be hard to decide what the best juice recipes are. To help you on your way to finding your personal favorite juice, we've asked Dr. Amanda Baten to share her favorite juice recipes. She has shared recipes that will not only make your mouth happy, but that will also relax you, settle your stomach and refresh you after a long day of work. Enjoy these amazing formulas:

Relaxation Juice = 4 carrots + 1/2 cucumber. Wash, cut into sections, juice. Relaxation made simple.

Stomach Soother = 5 1/2 heads of cabbage + 1 beet (with leaves) + 2 kiwis. Wash, cut into sections, juice.

Renewal Juice = 8 large carrots + 1/2 beet + 1/2 turnip + 1/2 parsnip + 5 celery stalks + 1/4 rutabaga + 1/8 head red cabbage + 5 radishes + 1 apple. Peel, wash, cut into sections, juice.

We hope these recipes have piqued your interest. Stay tuned for more updates from The Center!

Personalize your Juice!

It's the start of a new year! There are so many new years resolutions to uphold, and here at The Center, we hope to help keep you healthy in your body, mind and spirit. A fun way to do that? JUICE! The juice cleanse has become a popular part of the detox process, but along with detoxifying your systems, juice can provide you with many health benefits if incorporated into your daily diet.  To help you on your way to feeling great, try this website that let's you choose the ingredients that you love (or the ones you happen to have in the refrigerator at the moment) and concocts a juicy creation complete with detailed recipes, nutrition facts and information about each juices health benefits. Dr. Amanda Baten will be sharing her favorite juice recipes soon so stay tuned!

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!