Picking the Best Summer Fruit

I don't know about you, but I hate it when I buy a beautiful piece of fruit from the market, only to bite into it and want to spit it right back out. When a fruit is too ripe or not ripe enough, it's a major bummer.

On their Healthy Bites blog, Self magazine staffers offer a guide to choosing the best summer fruits:

Apricots: Plump, pretty firm, velvety skin, even in color with a deep yellow, pinkish hue. Store in fridge.

Peaches: Fragrant, pretty firm, no brown spots. You can ripen underipe peaches in a paper bag for a few days.

Plums: Firm (with a slight given whe you press it), plump, heavy, no brown spots, which means it's been sunburned. You can refrigerate a few days to keep.

Mangoes: Yield slightly to gentle pressure, fragrant, yellow skin blushed with red.

Watermelon: Hard rind that's dull (not shiny), symmetrical (no flat sides). Slap the side of the melon--if you hear a hollow thump, it's a sign it's probably ripe.

Cantaloupe: Sweet scent (but not too strong), deep, thick thump when slapped, heavy.

Tomatoes: Firm (with a slight give when you press it), free from blemishes, and heavy. Don't refrigerate--cold temps kill the flavor.

Microbes 'R' Us

On July 21st in the New York Times blog, The Wild Side, Olivia Judson wrote about the huge amount of bacteria present in our bodies (about 10 bacterial cells for every human cell) and the ways in which certain ones proliferate depending on the foods we eat.

The "gut bacteria," as she calls them, are particularly important. Located in the digestive tract, they play a key role in the digestive process and immune function. They also make the small molecules needed for our enzymes to work properly and alter which genes get turned on and off in our intestinal walls. Having a wide variety is key to a healthy body.

What we eat has a huge effect on these gut bacteria. A diet rich in sugars and fats reduces their diversity, causing a shift towards bacteria that are most efficient at extracting energy. However, eating more plant foods can help you shift back. Ingesting foods rich in probiotic bacteria can also be beneficial. Try miso soup or foods like yogurt and kefir.

I often see that an overuse of antibiotics also really disrupts the gut because it wipes out these important bacteria. Often, natural treatments such as acupuncture and herbs can alleviate symptoms and boost immunity better than an antibiotic. If you absolutely have to take antibiotics, though, it's a good idea to also take a multi-strain probiotic to help protect the balance.

To read more about how traditional Chinese medicine can help fight illness, visit Five Seasons Healing online.

Moxa for Breech Babies

Below is an instructional video from Acubalance Wellness Center to show a Chinese medicine acupuncture technique called Moxibustion that is used to turn breech babies.

Acupuncture for PTSD

While acupuncture is used to treat a broad range of physical ailments, it can also benefit those suffering from mental and emotional issues such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

In a pilot study at the University of New Mexico, researchers conducted a clinical trial examining the effect of acupuncture on the symptoms of PTSD, including depression, anxiety, and impairment in 73 people who had been diagnosed with the condition. The participants were assigned to receive either acupuncture or group cognitive-behavioral therapy over 12 weeks, or were assigned to a wait-list as part of the control group.

The researchers found that the effect of acupuncture was as effective as the group cognitive-behavioral treatment, and that both were superior to the effect on the control group.

At the end of the program, both treatments were extended for 3 months, and the control group was offered treatment or referral for treatment.

While the results are not conclusive, as the sample group was small, they have paved the way for further studies that may show in greater detail how acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine can alleviate PTSD symptoms.

For information about acupuncture services offered at Five Seasons Healing, click here.

Foods to Promote Male Fertility

While countless magazines, newspapers, blogs and other media are littered with information on how women can watch their diet to stay healthy to protect and enhance their fertility, the male factor also plays a big role.

Men can promote fertility and increase sperm count by nourishing their jing, the essence of life, which is fundamental in fertility.

One of the easiest ways to strengthen jing is through diet. Men seeking to do this should make sure to eat nutrient-dense foods and consume plenty of the following:

eggs (birds and fish)
animal organs like kidney
oysters
seeds
nuts
seaweeds
algae
artichoke leaf
nettles, oats, raw milk

It is also important to get adequate amounts of certain nutrients, including:

folic acid, found in oranges, dark leafy greens like spinach and kale and broccoli
zinc, found in meat and beans
vitamin D and calcium, mostly in dairy products

Getting enough sleep and exercise are also important. Stress can be a big factor in infertility, and rest and a good workout are great ways to relieve both.

For more information on how acupuncture and Chinese medicine can also enhance fertility, visit Five Seasons Healing online.

A Happy Home Birth Story!

I've been following this blog for several months, as author Ryan has chronicled his wife's pregnancy in weekly photos like the one above and almost-daily entries. His posts are candid, smart, hilarious—and addictive.

Last week, his wife, Cole, gave birth at home to a beautiful baby girl, and he has been posting photos and updates, along with the Birth Story. It's a wonderful read if you have a few free minutes in your day!

Festive Summer Cocktails

Happy Fourth of July, everyone! I hope you're all having a beautiful day.

A lot of people like to include a little alcohol in their summer celebrations. When enjoyed in moderation, an occasional drink can help promote heart health—especially fitting, as the season of summer is associated with the heart.

On Everyday Health, a Chinese medicine blog I follow, author Vien-Phuong Nini Mai posted about infusing your drink with herbs.

Why not try their suggestion of mint, ginger, and gogi berries?

Cheers!

Acupuncture and Exercise bring Relief to PCOS sufferers

According to a new study, exercise and electro-acupuncture treatments can reduce sympathetic nerve activity in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), one of the most common endocrine disorders. PCOS affects about 10% of women of reproductive age and is associated with health issues such as elevated levels of androgens (like testosterone), ovarian cysts, irregular menstrual cycles and infertility.

This finding is especially important, since women with PCOS have elevated sympathetic nerve activity, which can contribute to hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, obesity and cardiovascular disease.

The study also found that the electro-acupuncture treatments led to more regular menstrual cycles, reduced testosterone levels and reduced waist circumference.

While it may be too soon to say for sure that low-frequency electro-acupuncture and exercise may be an alternative, non-pharmaceutical way to treat PCOS, the results of this study are promising.

Read the full article here, and for more information about how traditional Chinese medicine can benefit women's health, check out the Five Seasons Healing website.