I know, you don't have time.  You don't feel like it.  You can't afford it.  Getting over the 'regular exercise' hump can be a difficult and impossible task.  The importance of exercise is common knowledge yet that knowledge is not enough motivation to get most of us off of the couch and onto the treadmill.
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Sugar plays an important role in the body of a healthy individual - it converts to carbohydrates and the body uses these carbohydrates for fuel.  Sugar is a naturally occurring substance found in fruit, whole grains and veggies and is a healthy part of the diet when unrefined and used in moderation.  A healthy diet is balanced and includes a spectrum of flavors - sweet, sour, salt, bitter, spicy, neutral and bland. 
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I'm so excited that so many people are asking about the benefits of acupuncture for weight loss.  The weight loss journey can be a long and difficult trek for many people. Acupuncture can provide safe and affective assistance along the way.

It is important to remember that acupuncture is apart of a medicine umbrella called Traditional Chinese Medicine which includes nutrition, herbal medicine, massage, physical activity, and acupuncture.  Together these elements encourage the body to function at its optimal capacity.  One of the side effects is weight loss.  

Acupuncture by it self does not "make" you lose weight.  There is no easy answer and no magic needle... can't get around nutrition and exercise. However it can be a great addition to your overall weight loss program.  It can help with those sneaky food cravings by releasing endorphins and relaxing the nerves.  It can also aide the breakdown and distribution of nutrients by improving the digestion and metabolism.  I hear so many stories where people have healthy diets and adequate exercise but just can't get the weight off.  Often times this is points to a slow metabolism.

Acupuncture can also safely treat many of the symptoms that accompany being over weight e.g. fatigue, joint pain and digestive, and respiratory problems.  

For successful weight loss I encourage people to have a well thought out plan and a great support network.  I suggest working with several different practitioners and giving yourself a realistic and healthy goal. 

Your network of therapies may include your physician, dietitian, acupuncturist, natropath, herbalist, fitness instructor, life coach, and therapist.  Other support may come from family and friends, faith or other communal groups.  I, for example, don't exercise well alone.  I need a group to motivate me.

If you are considering adding acupuncture to your weight loss program you have made a good choice.  I wish you the great success that you deserve and remember to be nice, kind and gentle to yourself.

Check out my services page for details.
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Ummm peppermint!  Peppermint is one of my favorite herbs.  It's so versatile, easy to find or grow that it makes a wonderful addition to your home medicine kit. 

Brewed strong, it is a powerful stimulant and a great substitute for coffee and tea.  Alternately it acts as a relaxant for nervousness, headache/migraine, and convulsions (in babies).  It's also great for mild and acute digestive discomfort such as gas, gripe, heartburn, colic, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.  What about dizziness, fainting, fever, stuffy nose and flu? Yep, that too. Topically it can be used for itchy skin conditions and joint pain where there is heat, swelling, and redness.  Oh, and I bet you didn't know it was an aphrodisiac?
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The choice between a diet of raw food verses cooked food is a hot controversy. The raw foodies argue that cooking food kills the live enzymes important to optimal nutrition and leaves food denatured. The cooked foodies argue that raw foods are too difficult to digest and many of the live enzymes do not get absorbed anyway because the food remains whole in the bowel and does not breakdown well.
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"The word "fast" itself indicates an important feature of a fast. It signifies a speeding up of the cleansing and renewal process by slowing down the normal digestive routine. "Cleansing" is a relative term. It generally means the purging of toxins and residues we have accumulated by using too many building foods (those rich in fats and proteins which build tissue most rapidly).

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A woman recently asked me how she could control her blood pressure.  She explained that in addition to a history of poor dietary choices, she often finds herself on an emotional roller coaster which often causes her blood pressure to spike.
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