July Special

July Special!
$45 Acupuncture Treatments

Since last month’s special was such a hit I decided to extend it through July. If you have never tried acupuncture but have been wondering why everyone is raving about it then now is your chance to try it without emptying your bank account! Call or email to schedule an appointment.

Mmm Mmm Smoothies

One of my husband’s all time favorite treat is a creamy strawberry smoothie. I enjoy making him this treat because 1. it puts a huge smile on his face and 2. I know he is eating something natural and healthy without added sugar or chemicals.

The best part about smoothie making is that they are superduper easy to make. Throw your favorite fruit in a blender with some milk and ice and VOILÀ!!! Out pours the smoothie of your wildest dreams!

Fruits that make good smoothies include bananas, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, mango, peaches, avocado, coconut, blackberries, and raspberries.

Using real fruit keeps the sugar levels low but don’t be fooled, sugar in it’s natural form is still sugar! The advantage of using real fruit is that it also has other natural elements like fiber, water, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Fiber will slow down sugar absorption. If you are a diabetic adding protein powder or fats like almond butter, avocado, or coconut oil will also slow down the rate sugar gets released into your bloodstream. You can bump up your smoothie power by adding a protein powder like Spiru-Tein, green powders like Vitamineral Green or Spirulina, or a handful of spinach or kale.

Here are a few of my personal favorite recipes. Feel free to alter the recipes according to your tastebuds.

Kai’s Favorite Strawberry Smoothie

• 2 cups frozen strawberries
• 2 cups milk of your choice
• 1 scoop vanilla Spiru-tein protein powder

blend on high for 30 seconds – 1 minute
makes 2 servings

Strawnana Berry Smoothie

• 1 frozen banana
• 2 cup frozen strawberries
• 1/4 cup frozen blueberries
• 2 cups of liquid of your choice (apple juice, milk, or water)
• optional – 1 scoop protein powder and/or 1 scoop green powder

blend on high for 30 seconds – 1 minute
makes 2 servings

Hawaiian Dream Smoothie

• 1 cup frozen mango
• 1 cup frozen pineapple
• 1 frozen banana
• 2 cups coconut milk

blend on high for 30 seconds – 1 minute
makes 2 servings

Green Machine Smoothie

• 2 frozen bananas
• 1 cup ice
• 1 handful spinach
• 1 kale leaf
• 1 bunch of mint
• 1 tbsp green tea powder
• 1 scoop of protein powder
• 2 cups of apple juice, orange juice, or milk

blend on high for 30 seconds – 1 minute
Makes 2 servings

Monkey Gone Bananas!

• 2 frozen bananas
• 1 cup ice
• 1 scoop cocoa powder or nibs
• 2 tbsp peanut butter
• 2 cups coconut milk

blend on high for 30 seconds – 1 minute
makes 2 servings

Yey Asparagus!

This week lets celebrate asparagus because it’s such an awesome veggie. You are probably wondering why asparagus so amazing. Well, besides the fact that it comes in 2 colors (white and green), asparagus is packed with lots of healthy nutrients.

Depending on how advanced your cooking skills are, asparagus can turn out tasting like stale cardboard, or become a satisfyingly delicious meal fit for a king.

Asparagus is a rockstar of a veggie and I am going to show you how to make yours become a true legend with my personal favorite recipe for creamy asparagus soup.

Creamy Asparagus Soup

• 1 bunch asparagus
• 1 onion
• 1 carrot
• 1 bulb of garlic
• 2 stalks celery
• 1 potato
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 1/2 cups of broth or milk of your choice
• celtic sea salt
• white pepper
• thyme

Wash and rough chop veggies into one inch or so pieces. Stir fry onions in butter until they become translucent. Add garlic, carrot, celery, potato, and asparagus and cook until soft. You may need to add a little water to the pan to keep the veggies from becoming dry. Once soft let the veggies cool down a bit and then add them to your blender. As you are blending the veggies slowly add the broth or milk, celtic sea salt, white pepper, and thyme to taste. Once creamy pour soup into pot and reheat.

Grilled Asparagus Spears

• 2 Bunches of asparagus
• olive oil
• celtic sea salt
• fresh ground pepper

Trim and cut off hard ends of stalks. Turn grill up to medium high. Lightly brush spears with olive oil, salt, and pepper and place them on the grill. Keep turning over spears until they become slightly soft and blackened. The key is you want them grilled on the outside but crisp on the inside so don’t grill them for too long. If you are feeling extra sassy drizzle some balsamic vinegar on them as soon as you take them off the grill. YUM!

For more delicious asparagus recipes, check out asparagusrecipes.net.

What is your favorite veggie recipe? Post a comment to let me know.

Happy Fresh Fruit & Veggie Month!

June Special!
$45 Acupuncture Treatments

No joke, June is National Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Month and I will help you celebrate it all month long by offering acupuncture sessions for only $45! Thats $30 bucks off the regular price of $75 per treatment. Wow, even I know thats a steal of a deal! Most sessions include acupuncture, herbal consultation, and mini massage or cupping treatment.

Headache & Migraine Sufferers Get Relief with Affordable Acupuncture

Most people at some point in their life will suffer from a headache. The pain could be as mild as slight tension or an annoying throb, to as severe as feeling like your brain is being stabbed over and over again with a knife. For some people the headache may last just a few minutes, and for others, it could lasts weeks or even months.

A headache is defined as pain or discomfort in the head, neck, or scalp. Western medicine recognizes 2 main types of headaches, primary and secondary. Primary headaches are headaches independent of other diseases. Primary headaches include migraine, cluster, and tension headaches. Secondary headaches are headaches that are caused by another disease or are symptoms of another pathology. Secondary headaches can be caused by an infection, substance induced, trauma, facial or cranial, emotional disturbance, or vascular changes.

In my clinic we use natural methods like acupuncture, Chinese medical herbs, massage, and dietary therapies to relieve headaches.  Headaches are usually a symptom of an underlying condition. Most people will treat their headache with over the counter or prescription medication given to them by their doctors. The pain may temporally subside but will often return hours or even days later. Many patients have told me that their migraine medication that used to provide relief has stopped working for them. This is because the pattern of disease that is causing the headache has not been addressed.

In Chinese Medicine we treat the underlying condition, not just the symptom which will provide longer lasting, and often permanent relief from the pain. Patients who originally came in to see me for a headache will often report feeling less anxious, more relaxed, and being able to sleep better after the acupuncture treatment. This is because the same pattern that has been causing you that annoying headache, could be causing your anxiety and insomnia too.

Right now I am offering acupuncture treatments for a discounted rate of $39. I know that I can help make acupuncture and health-care affordable enough for you to come in and get help you deserve without having to worry about finances. In the meantime, here are a few helpful things that you can do at home to help alleviate your headache:

1. Eat a diet based on whole foods. Your food should be in its natural from without additives.

2. Eliminate processed foods. Foods like breads, sugar, canned, packages, or food in jars will most likely have additives and can trigger a headaches.

3. Drink more water. Water will help flush out toxins from your system.

4. Meditate. Just find time to do it. It will help relieve stress and tension. Start with at least 5 minutes a day.

5. Sleep. Get it. The importance of sleep is underrated in our society. The average person needs 7 hours of sleep a night. If you are not getting that then its time to see your acupuncturist.

For more information about Dawna Ara and her clinic click here.

As always consult your primary care physician before making any major health decisions.