Tip of the day for the rest of your days...

Organic produce seems to be the big thing these days and genetically modified produce seems to be a no no. Differentiate the difference by looking at the labels more carefully. 

Instead of looking at labels for just the title and whether it says "organic", check out the UPC code on the labels. UPC codes beginning with the number "4" means the produce is conventionally grown using pesticide and other preservatives. Codes beginning with the number "8" means the produce has been genetically modified and codes beginning with "9" means the produce is organically grown. 

However, be weary of what you buy because "organic" doesn't always mean organic. The best produce is Ontario grown produce and whatever is in season. Less chemicals and preservatives are used on your produce if it is Ontario grown and in season.

Tip of the day for the rest of your days...

Thinking of reaching a buffet tonight? Don't skip your meals throughout the day thinking you'll make space for that buffet.

Most people know that skipping meals will result in stomach shrinkage. But some people believe that starving themselves before a buffet will give them more room in their stomach for more food. When you skip meals before a buffet, you're forcing a lot of food into a stomach that cannot retain its original amount. Therefore, you're also forcing your stomach to not only stretch out again but put in double the effort to digest the food. But the havoc doesn't stop there. Overworking your stomach forces your liver and spleen to overwork as well to produce the bile and blood needed to aid in digestion.

Some of the symptoms with a weakened and overworked spleen and liver are gasiness, chronic fatigue, lowered immune system, higher cholesterol levels, vision problems, dizziness, nausea, tendon and muscle problems, spasms, poor concentration and memory and the list goes on and on and on.

Many of these symptoms may occur over time so it's best to eat every meal in proper proportions for healthy organs. It all starts from the inside out, so take care of your insides!

Tip of the day for the rest of your days...

Here comes a little Chinese medicine knowledge for you today (and also common sense)! Protect yourself from catching the flu/cold this winter by wearing a scarf.

In Chinese medicine, it is believed that there is a point in the back of your neck called the "Gate of Wind" point located under the C7 of your spine. It is here where the body is most vulnerable to "Wind Cold". Wind cold in Chinese medicine can be best translated as a cause for catching the common cold/flu. When this Wind cold enters the body through the Gate of Wind, your body experiences chills as the first symptom of the cold. When your lungs begin to feel that "chill", it immediately responds by closing up the pores of your body resulting in body heat eventually building up and getting trapped in your body. When this happens, you experience a fever which means you have the flu. And from there, things tend to go downhill a little as your body is trying to fight off the flu and this is when most of us will experience headaches, aching muscles, thirst, coughing, vomiting etc. 

So this winter, don't underestimate the power of the scarf. If you're not much of a scarf wearer to begin with or cannot understand the benefits of wearing a simple piece of clothing try going out without one, one day and wearing it another and you will truly notice the difference!

THANN PRIZE PACK WINNER

The winner of the blog's first contest is...

SARAH KIM

Congratulations Sarah! 

Thank you all who participated. As long as we all live a healthy lifestyle, we're all winners. Keep your eyes open for the next upcoming draw!

Tip of the day for the rest of your days...

Do you sometimes wake up in the morning with aching teeth and jaws? Perhaps you grind your teeth overnight in your sleep. If you're a teeth grinder try eating more leafy greens. 

In Chinese medicine, teeth grinding is caused by excess "heat" in the stomach. What that means is the stomach is constantly working, unable to rest even in your sleep. And in Chinese medicine, the mouth and the stomach are connected as one unit. Therefore, because of the unrest of the stomach, your mouth, teeth and jaws also cannot rest. In Western terms, it is believed that grinding comes from stress, anxiety, uneasiness etc. So it's possible your stomach is uneasy. 

Leafy greens such as lettuce, romaine lettuce and celery help "cool" the stomach. Also, try not to eat too late at night and stay away from spicy food. If the teeth grinding continues, it's best to see a traditional medicine doctor because the causes may be more deeply rooted in other organs. Teeth grinding is not only annoying for others, but you may eventually develop jaw problems and more. 

Click here for today's ballot entry!

Ps. Today is the last day to submit your entries for the draw!
Also, beginning today blog entries will only be made during the weekdays. The reason for this is that I require the weekends to further research and study these tips so I can develop better solutions! Thanks for your understanding! =)

Tip of the day for the rest of your days...

Stress. Everybody experiences it and everybody hates it. How do you deal with it right at the moment? In an earlier post, I wrote about a type of ear massage to relieve stress. But here's another solution that you can combine with your ear massage. Deep breathing will calm the nerves and clear the mind. 

Yes, it may sound simple and many people tend to overlook it. But are you breathing properly? Ever notice when you are stressing out or having an anxiety attack, your breathing gets shallower? You begin to feel tightness in your chest and back. Instead, take 5 minutes. Stand still with your arms to your sides. Loosen your shoulders, unlock your knees, close your eyes gently and breathe deep into your diaphragm. Breathe in through your nose with your tongue touching the roof of your mouth and breathe out with your mouth. Repeat deep breathes until you can you breathe at a steady and slow rate. It is extremely important to breathe down into your diaphragm at a steady rate. 

As a student of Chinese medicine and acupuncture, I'm also required to learn the art of Taichi. In Taichi, not only do we learn movements that most of you have probably seen in school fields and parks, but it teaches you how to listen to your body. It teaches you how to breathe. Taichi brings every part of your body together to work together. If anyone is interested in learning Taichi, you can message me! =)

Tip of the day for the rest of your day...

Today's tip may not seem like the usual, however, this tip may not only help you, but it may help someone else. Also, this blog entry is geared more towards Torontonians, but don't let geography stop you. Do it wherever you live!

In a recent study and survey conducted by the Canadian Centre for the Study of Living Standards, Toronto was rated the saddest city in Canada. Some of the factors that affected one's happiness was stress, the feeling of belonging, married vs. never married and immigrant status. 

So your mid-week goal today is to give a warm "hello" and "have a nice day" to a total stranger. You never know, you may have brightened up their day a little and lifted a burden off their shoulder. At the same time, you'll feel good as well!