Mindfulness Can Lead to Happiness

This past January, mindfulness expert Andy Puddicome gave a great TED talk about the importance of being mindful and present. This video gives an overview of his methods and the importance of meditating for 10 minutes a day in order to take care of your brain. Meditation, according to Andy, can be any activity that allows you to focus your brain so that you are not juggling your thoughts but are focused on the present moment. Whether you achieve this through deep breathing excercizes, physical exercise, or any one of our meditative services at The Center is up to you. Take the time to reward your brain for it's hard work and watch Andy's video (it's worth the effort!)

Keep your Body Clean while Playing Outdoors

Happy daylight savings! Sunday may have not been fun if you realized too late that you lost an hour, but the prospect of more daylight should boost your spirits. Having longer days means more time to do your favorite outdoor activities like biking or running through Central Park or picking up a game of basketball after work.  The prospect of being outside more is exciting, but an article posted on FitnessMagazine.com warns that pollution may be problematic for the health of the everyday outdoor player.  But don't fret! The article suggests that exercising outside early in the morning or in the evenings reduces your exposure to air pollution. The article also suggests limiting your exposure to grass sprayed with chemicals and checking the air quality levels in your area. Keep yourself healthy this spring and check back with The Center for Integrative Practices for more information on keeping your body and mind healthy.

A Diet focused on the Heart

To celebrate the end of American Heart Month, we wanted to share with you a great article posted on the New York Times website this week. The article talks about a diet that is solely focused on keeping your heart healthy. Referred to as "The Mediterranean Diet", this diet is not a new innovative concept but rather dictated by the foods people have access to in the Mediterranean. There is now overwhelming research that shows that while the Mediterranean diet may not help with weight loss, it can help prevent high risk individuals from stroke and heart disease. The best part? Mediterranean food is delicious and accessible. It even includes red wine! To find out more, check out the full NYTimes article and keep checking in with us for more health related news.

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!