It's All in the Eyes

The New York Times recently featured a quiz to test how well people can read ... people! Check out this article and take the quiz to see if you can read emotions or if you need a few lessons from the pros. The New York Times also posted an article that features studies saying that reading certain types of fiction can improve your emotion-reading IQ.

For more health and psychology news and the latest on The Center, keep checking back here!

Fresh for Fall

Happy first day of fall! While summer still looms in the air, now is a great time to get together your fall beauty routine before the new season fully hits. In honor of the new harvest, why not try some fall inspired beauty products with some DIY recipes?  A DIY Pumpkin Facial mask rich in vitamin A and C is easy to make and can brighten up your skin after all of the sun damage from the summer. Other DIY recipes include this list of Thanksgiving inspired beauty products which features a butternut squash enzyme mask. Craving apples? Apple cider vinegar can be used in some beauty product recipes listed here.

Enjoy the new season and keep visiting The Center for more news and updates.

Reducing Allergies using Holistic Techniques

Post-labor day begins everyone's least favorite time of the year. No, it's not back to school. September brings with it the sneezing and coughing of allergy season due to the increases in airborne pollen. With that, CNN special correspondent Dr. Robert Reinhardt shared that combined with the allergens children are exposed to from returning to school, September has the highest incidents of hospitalization due to allergen-induced asthma attacks. Besides avoiding allergens and taking antihistamines, allergies can be treated through more holistic techniques. Maria of Maria's Farm Country Kitchen  suggests treating the inflammation caused by allergies through a healthy diet and by reducing external stress. The Mother Nature Network blog also suggests changing your external environment to lower susceptibility to allergens. Some of these suggestions include removing shoes before you walk into your house or apartment and showering before bed. Women's Day magazine contributes that acupuncture and homeopathic treatments such as those provided at The Center can help alleviate allergy symptoms. 

For more information and helpful tips from The Center for Integrative Practices, check out our website and facebook page. 

Relabeling Our Food

Do you find food labels obtuse?  The New York Times recently wrote an article that shared a project by UC Berkley School of Journalism where students are trying to redesign the way you process nutrition facts. Changing fonts, colors and titles, students are flipping food labels on their heads to make nutrition facts more transparent. A cool way to make nutrition easier to understand. Check out the full article here to see examples of the potential future of the back of your cereal box.

For all the latest news about The Center, keep checking our website.

Welcome Allegra Parks to The Center!

The Center of Integrative Practices would like to welcome our newest practitioner, Allegra Parks! Allegra is a state licensed psychotherapist who received Masters Degrees in both social work and early adolescent education. In her practice, Allegra focuses on helping adults and adolescents deal with trauma, health issues, anxiety, conflict and other related issues. For more information, check out Allegra Parks on The Center's website. Keep checking back with us for more updates and upcoming events!

Staying Cool this 4th of July

It may be a rainy couple of days in New York City, but the humidity and heat can make any 4th of July BBQ a little unbearable. The Mother Nature Network posted an article a couple years ago about unusual ways to stay cool and healthy during the summer. Some surprising methods they found were eating light foods, eating spicy food (spice makes you sweat without raising your body temperature!), and running cool water over your pulse points. All these great ways to stay cool and more can be seen here. The city can trap you in a dense heat often, especially if you are taking the subway or have to walk to get around town. Here are some ways to cool yourself off while stuck without air-conditioning in the city:

1) Map out the free Museums in the city. Always air conditioned, you know you can seek respite here, if only for a few minutes.

2) Use the water ways! On a breezy day, walking along the East River or Hudson is a great way to get from point A to point B and will provide you with a little relief from the dense heat you would feel walking along Lexington or Madison Ave.

3) Seek shade! Central Park is a perfect place to seek shelter in the summer with paths dotted with trees.

4) Public pools are open for the season, a sure way to cool you down on even the hottest days. For a full list of pools, click here.

5) Enjoy smoothie season to it's fullest! Here's a fun July 4th recipe.

Stay happy, stay healthy, and stay tuned for more news from The Center.

Style and Psychology: A Delicious Blend

Welcome back to The Center for Integrative Practices blog! It's been a while and we are excited to share some exciting news with you. It isn't often style and psychology are mixed, but the New York Times style section featured our very own Dr. Amanda Baten this past week! The article discusses beauty products that are created out of food and the possibility of wearing these food-scented products as a dietary technique.  If you didn't have a chance to read this article yet and see what Dr. Amanda Baten has to say on the subject, check out the online article here! For more information on The Center for Integrative Practices, follow our blog or follow us on Facebook. We'll see you back here soon!