Boost Energy With This Stretch

Everyday stress can throw your entire system off kilter; your muscles tighten, your heart races, and your stomach starts acting up — again. A simple seated forward bend can activate a reserve of sustaining energy that, according to Chinese medicine, rests between the kidneys. “It calms the nervous system, gets the organs fully functioning, and clears up obstructions in the kidneys and adrenal glands,” explains Daniel Max, nutrition counselor, shiatsu practitioner, and yoga instructor with Max Sense of Self in Watertown, Massachusetts. Get your qi back in no time with this quick stretch.

What It Does
Calms the mind; relieves stress; stretches the spine, shoulders, hamstrings, and back; stimulates the kidneys and adrenal glands; improves digestion; and reduces fatigue.

How to Do It
1. Sit with your legs extended straight in front of you, feet parallel with toes pointing up. Press the back of your legs into the floor.

2. Inhale deeply and lift through the upper body. With your spine straight and shoulders back, pull the navel in slightly toward the spine, creating space in the abdomen. Exhale, release, and lean forward, bending from the hip, not the waist.

3. Fold forward only as far as you can (keep your knees bent if that’s more comfortable). With each inhalation, lift and lengthen the front torso slightly; if you feel able to go further, release a little more fully into the bend on an exhale. Try not to crunch; maintain length through the spine.

4. Hold for a few breaths, allowing your body to open up. Direct your breath toward the kidneys, breathing deep into the lower back. Then inhale and sit up slowly, lifting your torso away from the thighs until your back is straight. Repeat 2 to 3 times.

Source: Body and Soul April 2008

Sea Scallops With Pomegranate Dressed Salad

Ingredients

Serves 8

2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground fennel seed
Coarse salt and ground white pepper
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
16 medium-size scallops
1 bulb fennel, tough outer leaves discarded, halved lengthwise, cored, and thinly sliced crosswise
1 bunch arugula, tough stems discarded, well washed (2 cups)
1 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves
2 tablespoons minced chives
1 ripe avocado, diced
1/4 cup fresh pomegranate seeds, for garnish (optional)

Directions

In a large bowl, whisk together pomegranate molasses, olive oil, ground ginger, and ground fennel; season with salt and pepper.
In a large nonstick skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Season scallops with salt and pepper. When the oil is very hot, add as many scallops as will fit in a single layer, with at least 1/2 inch of space between them, and cook without turning until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn scallops over and cook 1 1/2 to 2 minutes or until centers are slightly translucent. Repeat with remaining scallops.
Whisk dressing to combine. Add fennel, arugula, parsley leaves, and chives. Toss well. Add avocado and toss again. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.
To serve, put the salad in the center of a platter and arrange scallops on top. If desired, garnish with pomegranate seeds.

Best and Worst Holiday Foods

So, as we get ready to feast on our favorite holiday foods this holiday we may be unaware of what may be better healthier eat then others. According to Men’s Health some of our favorite foods may not be the best for our health.

Worst Classic Holiday Drink

Eggnog

350 calories
19 g fat
22 g sugars

The primary ingredients are milk, cream and eggs. Hot chocolate is just as tasty with nearly one-third of the calories. But beware, cups of hot chocolate from national outlets like Starbucks and Caribou Coffee can be twice as treacherous as the homemade version. Blame excessive serving sizes and heavy dollops of full-fat milk and thick and caloric whipped cream. Stick with the homemade hot chocolate, instead.

Drink this instead:

Hot Chocolate

120 calories
4 g fat
15 g sugars

Worst Appetizer

Crab Cake

400 calories
19 g fat

Opt for the crustacean cocktail, but keep your dipping under wraps; most cocktail sauces are light in calories, but loaded with sodium.

Eat this instead:

Shrimp Cocktail (12 shrimp)

165 calories
1 g fat

Bonus tip: You may be tempted to order an appetizer or side when you’re out to eat, but make sure your extra add-on isn’t one of the worst apps, sides or starters—you’ll only be making next year’s weight-loss resolution that much more daunting! Continue Reading

Link Bewteen Our Emotions And Our Health

Burying emotions without processing them in a healthy way can cause a host of negative feelings, such as anxiety, fear, insecurity, anger, and sadness, as well as physical problems. In traditional Chinese medicine, there are five negative emotions that correspond with areas of the body. When the energy in each area of the body becomes blocked or stagnant, the body suffers.

* The energy in the lungs is weakened by sadness. This can result in asthma, shortness of breath, a propensity to catch colds or flu, and fatigue.
* The liver is damaged by feelings of anger and irritability. We may experience depression, muscle cramps, or headaches.
* The spleen is associated with anxiety. Weak spleen energy is said to cause us to worry too much about things, especially those we cannot control. Physical signs include digestive problems, edema, sinus congestion, or skin rashes.
* When kidney chi is weak, we can feel scared. This may show itself in the body as fatigue, urinary problems, back and knee problems, or sexual difficulties.
* The energy in the heart can become imbalanced, and excessive joy (mania) is a negative emotion. We may experience insomnia, restlessness, and inability to concentrate.

The energy flow, when blocked in one area, affects other areas as well, because everything in our bodies is connected and the health of one part depends upon the health of the others.

According to this theory, when our bodily energy is low, it increases our more difficult emotions. Conversely, when we experience negative emotions, it weakens our energy centers and throws them out of balance. We can see how interrelated our minds and bodies really are. What we are feeling influences our body’s health, and our body’s health influences our mind’s well-being.

When our feelings of sadness, anger, anxiety, or fear are suppressed, it can be devastating for our health. To ensure optimal health , and that you are balanced in mind and body, you need to recognize your emotions, process them, and release them. You can’t not have emotions. Even the most even-tempered, content people experience negative emotions; the key is to acknowledge them and not allow them to remain trapped inside. Continue Reading