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Greetings!
As I was writing the article below about healthy skin, I started reflecting on the phrase, "beauty is only skin deep." I guess that's supposed to mean that a person's character has nothing to do with their appearance. That's all well and good, but I'd rather phrase it: "beauty is deeper than our skin."
How many people do you have in your life whose inner kindness, compassion, character transcends the look of their bodies? How many people have you met that wouldn't have come close to being selected for a beauty contest, but who started looking more radiant and attractive the more you got to know them and like them?
No matter how you feel about your own body, it is very supportive of you. Your heart never misses a beat; your lungs continue to expand and contract; your belly converts food into fuel; your legs take you where you want to go. Our bodies are busy inside doing so much for us. Why do we continue to spend so much time and energy worrying about what they look like on the outside?
Now, I do believe that the appearance of our bodies can be a useful tool to determine imbalances and where our bodies need extra support. For example, in the article below I describe how certain skin conditions may indicate deeper imbalances. However, allowing the chasm between how you look and how the chosen few on magazine covers and on TV look to grow darkly negative does not serve you! Working out like a maniac to punish your body fat, feeling your heart sink when you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror, agonizing over a restrictive diet so you can look "good" is not the way to show your body gratitude for everything it does for you.
Imagine all the energy you spend focusing on how you look, or how you don't measure up. Now think about what you could do with that energy if you directed it towards your relationships, towards your career, towards helping others, towards loving yourself for a change.
Thank your body today. Be beautiful inside and out.
Health and happiness,
Jen |
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Food for Healthy Skin
 "F or healthy looking skin." Have you ever heard those words from a beauty product commercial? Truly healthy, radiant skin comes from within. After all, every single cell in your body is built and nourished by the foods you choose to eat! That means you can literally see the food you ate for dinner last night in your hair, your nails, and your skin. Likewise, nutrient deficiences and other internal imbalances can show up in your skin.
Do you have "angry" looking skin? Red patches, rosacea, or acne are all inflammatory conditions that may be signs of deeper issues. Since your skin is your largest organ of elimination, more waste products and toxins are released through your pores than by any other means. Redness or acne may be a sign that your body needs some extra support with detoxifying your blood of the free radicals and other toxic compound that clog pores and increase inflamation. Try eating more foods that gently and consistently cleanse your liver and digestive system, like fruits and vegetables full of fiber. Dark leafy greens like kale and broccoli are the best choices to support your body with detoxification.
Acne-prone skin can also benefit from eating the right fats and oils. That might seem counterintuitive, but cutting down on refined oils like soybean and vegetable oil in processed foods, and adding fats high in omega three fatty acids like extra virgin olive oil, fish oil and flaxsed oils help reduce inflamation and reset the homonal imbalances that are often associated with acne.
Of course, whenever people talk about skin, one of the biggest concerns is wrinkles! I like to think of the word "antiaging" as virtually synonymous with "antioxidant." Oxidation is what happens when molecules come in contact with oxygen; imagine the white pulp of a half eaten apple turning brown in the air. Basically, it's a fancy word for rusting! Anitioxidants help preserve the youth of all of your body's tissues, especially your skin. There are many fruits and vegetables that are full of these compounds, but to get the most for your buck, go for berries. Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and cherries are loaded with antioxidants and will help your skin glow from the inside out!
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the skin is a window into the health of the liver, and the liver is associated with anger. Talk about angry skin! According to this ancient theory, those red, inflammatory conditions like acne and rosacea, may be due to unexpressed or inappropriate anger. What can you do? Find an expressive activity like martial arts or dancing and throw yourself into it! This may sound silly, but growling, punching, and yelling gibberish is an effective way of releasing pent up anger (without hurting someone's feelings!).
The three thousand year-old Ayurvedic medical tradition of India traces those same angry, red skin conditions as an imbalance of Pitta, the hot, summery energy. According to this theory, each of us is predominantly one of three different body types, and prone to particular issues. To restore balance to pitta, eat cooling foods like fruits and raw vegetables, and avoid spicy foods and heavy fats.
Evidently, there are many ways of understanding skin issues. So, what's going on with your skin? Seem complicated? Experiment and listen to your body to discover what perspectives resonate with you. Having a holistic health counselor doesn't hurt either! |
Food Focus: Water
M ost of us are aware of the importance of drinking enough water. Getting our daily requirement of water helps our organs perform their functions, keeps our skin clear and hydrated, and allows physical action in our bodies to flow smoothly. Even with this knowledge, it can still be challenging to drink all the water our bodies deserve daily. Especially in the summer, when we tend to play hard, break a sweat and dance in the sun, drinking plenty of water is critical. Those who are not drinking enough may experience poor digestion, sluggish thinking, skin breakouts, headaches, bad breath and general fatigue.
To start your day right, set a large glass of water by your bed each night and drink it when you wake up. When the first thing that flows through your body each morning is water, it pulls out toxins left over from the previous day and freshens your system for the day ahead. Keep a bottle of water accessible throughout the day, whether you are on the go or at a desk. Having one close by will remind you to take a sip when thirsty. The first sip will usually let you know how much more water you need. A sip or two may be enough, or you may need a big glass. If you drink most of your daily water before early evening, you most likely will not be thirsty before bed. This is good, because drinking before bed, and then waking to use the bathroom, disturbs your peaceful night's sleep.
What about quality? Some people like bottled water, while others prefer filtered water. The safety of the plastic in water bottles has recently come into question. I personally recommend finding a stainless steel that you can refill with filtered water. This will not only prevent the possibility of chemicals from the plastic bottles leaching into your water, but it will cut down on waste and save the energy and oil it takes to keep making the disposable bottles. Americans discard 2 million plastic bottles every 5 minutes!
The key is to like the taste of the water you are drinking, and the water should agree with your body. If the taste of plain water is unappealing, experiment to see how you can make it tasty and drinkable. Adding a few mint leaves, a wedge of lemon, a sprig of parsley, slices of cucumber, a twist of lime or a squeeze of orange are great ways to make water more tempting or to jazz up your water routine. Also, drinking tea or juice and eating raw fruits and vegetables contribute to the hydration process. So, splash in the waves, swim in the sun, drink plenty of water and enjoy the summer fun!
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Recipe of the Month #1
Sun Tea 
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: one full day
Serves: 2-4
Ingredients:
3-4 tea bags of your choice
water
Directions:
1. Fill an extra-large mason jar with lid with
water, add 3 or 4 of your favorite tea bags.
2. Place in sun for one full day and let the shining rays pour in heat and energy, bringing out the wonderful tea flavors.
3. Sweeten if so desired with natural sweetener, serve room temperature or cold over ice.
Option: Garnish with mint leaves or lemon wedge.
Recipe of the Month #2
Flavored Water Infusion
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Serves: 4-6
Ingredients:
water
one half sliced cucumber
OR 2 cups fresh raspberries
sprigs of fresh mint
Directions:
1. Fill a pitcher with clean water
2. Add cucumber or raspberries and mint
3. Refrigerate for 4-8 hours
4. Serve and enjoy! Keep this in your refrigerator
for a refreshing change |
Don't Miss These Amazing Events!
 BACK TO SCHOOL, BACK TO SANITY! Are you a parent who feels more stressed and busy with all the kids' summer activities? Are you looking forward to getting back into the routine of the school year? You don't want to miss this blissful day of shopping and relaxation! Vital Touch Wellness and The Eagle's Nest Boutique are collaborating to help you jumpstart your fall with some special time to yourself. Starting at 9 AM, Vital Touch Wellness will be scheduling "30 Minutes of Bliss," which includes a soothing foot massage and deeply relaxing neck, head and shoulder massage, for only $30! The Eagle's Nest will be offering drawings (including a massage gift certificate), beverages, and big discounts on their beautifully crafted items. Call Vital Touch ahead to schedule your Bliss!
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 9 AM TO NOON
Vital Touch Wellness, 160 Park Road, Downingtown (in the Village of Eagle)
HEALTH FOOD STORE TOUR Have you ever wondered if you're missing out because you don't know what half of the items are in Kimberton Whole Foods? Do you question whether some of the foods are really healthier than in the conventional stores? Maybe you're a veteran health food store shopper, but you'd like to learn more. Join me for this very informative and really fun tour to discover what's up with these health foods. I'll be covering sea vegetables, soy foods, oils, "natural" processed products, and more!
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 7-8 PM
Kimberton Whole Foods in Downingown
CALL AHEAD TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT!
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Rediscover Your Best Self
At Vital Touch Wellness we are committed to your life-long health and vitality. Our mission is to help our clients live their lives to the fullest, offering holistic health counseling, therapeutic massage, cooking classes, and nutrition workshops.
We have highly experienced and intuitive massage therapists on staff whose goal is to free your body from pain and tension and clear your mind of stress... so you feel uplifted and better able to take on your life with joy... long after you walk out our door!
As a holistic health counselor, I offer an individualized program to guide my clients through the confusing flood of information and research about nutrition. I help you discover which foods and lifestyle choices work best for you and your body to help you reach and maintain your goals. My mission is to inspire and empower you to nourish yourself from the inside out by integrating the best of traditional, eastern and western approaches to health! Come in for a free initial consultation with the coupon below, or forward this newsletter to a friend who could use some support improving their health. See my website for more details.
All the best,
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Jennifer McLamb, CMT, CHHC
Founder and Director,
Vital Touch Wellness |
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