food – Medford Acupuncture & Herbal Clinic – Ashland, Talent, Central Point OR

Health benefits of fermented Tea

Written by MiddlewayMedicine.com on August 4, 2017. Posted in Digestion/Diet, Immune Health and Balance.

by Ann Zimmerman, LAc.

Fermented Foods and drinks are rich sources of probiotics…beneficial bacteria for humans.Our digestive tract’s ecological community contains more than 1,000 types of bacteria. Fermented foods help with nutrient and vitamin absorption, the breakdown of proteins, boosting immunity, detoxification, alkalizing our PH, and restoring balance to our homeostasis.

Consuming fermented foods is somewhat like consuming predigested food, our bodies do less work for more nutritional gain. Familiar food ferments include; cheeses, yogurt, pickles, miso, tempeh, kimchi, and sauerkraut. In addition to fermented foods, we also have the medicinal category of fermented beverages: kombucha, vinegars(shrubs), wine, beer, cider, Jun, and many more.

Lets focus on the ever popular Kombucha(commonly fermented black tea and white sugar) and Jun(fermented green tea and raw honey). The perfect cold drink for a hot summer day in the Rogue Valley. Many people decide to try these fermented gems because they seek to alleviate various ailments. However the way these drinks are able to help with ailments is not by curing diseases, but rather, by optimizing the bodies ability to run it’s immune system and physiological functions more efficiently. Stress specifically is one of the most detrimental factors to our health and fermented teas can help us mitigate the effects of stress on our bodies.

These ferments are considered adaptogens. Adaptogens normalize the bodies ability to deal with stress. They are a good source of anti-oxidants, helping us to eliminate the free radicals generated by stress, while providing protection for our liver by reducing cravings for sugar and alcohol. Kombucha and Jun support healthy digestion by increasing the acidity in the gut. Gut acidity eases digestion and absorption of nutrients, thus reducing symptoms of bloating and irritable bowel.

These ferments also contain bio-available B and C vitamins…meaning the vitamins are in a form the the body can easily recognize and absorb(in contrast to many vitamin pills).The B vitamins help to stabilize the mood and improve concentration, while the C vitamin suppresses cortisol(stress hormone)levels, reducing the risk for hypertension and depression.

Kombucha is extremely popular,with good reason, for being such a healthy and tasty beverage. Finding locally made ferments is not hard in the Rogue Valley or you can try your hand at the “wall of Kombucha” in the grab and go sections of most groceries. For those of you who would like to try your hand at home-brew…..I can personally speak to the rewards of caring for these cultures and enjoying the benefits of home-brew. Whatever you relationship is with ferments, I encourage you to keep experimenting with adding a consistent variety of fermented goodies to your wellness plan.

Cooling Foods for Summer

Written by MiddlewayMedicine.com on August 4, 2017. Posted in Digestion/Diet.

by Clark Zimmerman, LAc.

One of the best parts of summer is the food. Backyard barbecues, abundant fruit, a summer garden and the ice cream truck all hold a special place in our lives. There are more options as the garden, growers market and grocery store all overflow with a large variety of colors and flavors. We all realize that food can bring us joy and improved health, but an often overlooked aspect of food is its effects on our body’s temperature. In Chinese medicine as well as Ayurvedic medicine, a lot of emphasis is placed on the effect a particular food has on the overall temperature of the body and thus on our health and comfort level.

We all know that when we are feeling hot, the last thing we want is to eat something that is hot. Hot stew and summer heat do not go well together. This is one of the reasons that we tend to crave salads or ice cream in the summer, and hot soups and stews in the winter. Too much heat in the body can cause a variety of symptoms including headaches, fever, red eyes, flushed skin, rashes, constipation, acid reflux, burning bowel movements or urination and insomnia. Since food is something we put into our body every day, it is often the most effective medicine. It is also typically the cheapest way to improve our health, and since we don’t need a prescription or an appointment to go to the market, it is also the easiest way to stay healthy. So what are the healthiest food choices to beat the summer heat. Here is a list of 10 great foods for the summer.

1) Leafy greens/ Lettuce: Greens have a high percentage of water, which helps cool you off by keeping you hydrated.

2) Raw foods: Raw foods take a bit more energy to digest, so they take some of the stomachs fire and put it to good use.

3) Berries: Berries are alkaline and cooling. You can also freeze berries and eat them as an extra cooling snack.

4) Melons: Watermelon is especially cooling. Ever try watermelon juice. Yum!

5) Cucumber: Good in salads.

6) Avocado: Cooling and full of healthy fats.

7) Coconut. Coconut water is one of our family favorites. They also make delicious coconut ice cream that is dairy free.

8) Bean sprouts. Especially mung beans. They are detoxifying, as well as cooling.

9) Yogurt: If dairy doesn’t sit well, you can try a delicious coconut yogurt.

10) Herbal teas: Such as mint, chrysanthemum or red peony.

Enjoy the heat.

Weight Loss

Written by MiddlewayMedicine.com on April 12, 2011. Posted in Digestion/Diet.

by Clark and Ann Zimmerman, L.Ac.

Approximately 70 million Americans are overweight. 34% of our country is obese, which means that one is over 20 pounds his or her optimal weight. The vast majority of overweight people have been on a variety of diets and regimens. It is quite common to experience initial success on diets. Unfortunately, the good results are usually temporary and eventually spiral into the same or a higher weight than we were at prior to the diet. This cycle can continue through life, which leaves many people feeling disempowered, cynical, and depressed about their ability to maintain an optimal weight. In our practice, we have helped many people lose weight and keep it off. This is because we educate our patients that they are NEVER to diet again. Instead, what they need to do is find a healthy way to eat that truly works for them and then stick with it as long as they live.

If you suffer from Weight gain, meditation is an excellent discipline to restore health, balance, and awareness to your life.

Tag: food

Health benefits of fermented Tea

Cooling Foods for Summer

Weight Loss

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