|
|
|
 In This Issue:
·Tips for Cold Weather
·Website Additions
·The Wonders of Turmeric
·Upcoming Events
January 2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tips For Cold Weather
Winter is Kapha season. Kapha, made primarily of earth and water, is cold, heavy and wet. It's responsible for the body's structure and lubrication but it's also responsible for weight gain, colds and lethargy. The average American gains eight pounds between mid-November and New Year's Day. Need I say more?
In ayurveda, we treat with opposites therefore the qualities of warmth, lightness and dryness will reduce kapha dosha. Even if you don't have weight to lose or a runny nose, you'll benefit from kapha-reducing therapies during kapha season. Here are some tips:
· Drink warm water and herbal teas throughout the day. This helps keep the digestive fire strong and simply feels good when it's cold outside. Try drinking ginger tea or a cup of hot water with a teaspoon of honey and 10 drops (yep, Dr. Lad is very specific on this) of apple cider vinegar first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
· Eat warm, unprocessed foods with heating spices like ginger, black pepper, garlic, cinnamon, cardamom, cumin, coriander and turmeric to speed the metabolism and heat you up from the inside out.
· Minimize consumption of dairy products. They're generally cooling and create mucus. If you are going to consume them, be sure to add the heating spices listed above as "antidotes".
· Get moving, lard-ass! Kapha's stable, slow and heavy-- it would rather you laze around all day, take naps and eat chocolate. (Kapha, thy name is Karen.) Do anything you want but don't lie down.
· Take a sauna. Dry heat counterbalances cold wetness.
· Give yourself an oil massage with sesame oil or a medicated oil designed to lower kapha (mine has ginger, cardamom and grapefruit in it).
|
|
|
|
KK Ayurveda Website Additions!
I've changed the skin-care section a bit (by the way, the Frankincense-Neroli Eye Cream is very popular), re-formulated the Rose Deluxe Facial Cream and added a Rose Deluxe Body Cream. Both rose creams contain pure, unadulterated Turkish Rose Absolute. If you're a freak for rose products (as I am), you'll love both!
Facial Care Products Body Care Products
I also added an Ayurvedic Library page with the books and music I turn to most often. The titles are all linked to amazon.com pages. If nothing else, buy the Healing Ragas and play them often! You can also get them on iTunes.
Ayurvedic Library
|
The Wonders of Turmeric
In addition to being a kapha-lowering herb/spice, turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory with research showing promising health benefits.
Dr. Andrew Weill, cites a published story that reviewed 700 studies and concluded that turmeric outperforms many pharmaceuticals in fighting several chronic, debilitating diseases, and does so with virtually no adverse side effects.
·Alzheimer's Disease - The reports indicate that extracts of turmeric contain a number of natural agents that block the formation of beta-amyloid, the substance responsible for the plaques that slowly obstruct cerebral function in Alzheimer's disease.
·Arthritis - Turmeric contains more than two dozen anti-inflammatory compounds, including six different COX-2-inhibitors. By itself, curcumin - the component in turmeric most often cited for its healthful effects - is a multifaceted anti-inflammatory agent, and studies of the efficacy of curcumin have demonstrated positive changes in arthritic symptoms.
·Cancer - In more than 200 citations, curcumin and/or turmeric were effective in animal models in prevention and/or treatment of colon cancer, mammary cancer, prostate cancer, liver cancer, esophageal cancer and oral cancer.
You can buy turmeric capsules at health food stores and Whole Foods but why not buy it in the spice aisle and start adding it to your food?
|
Upcoming Events
January 25: Exhale Spa
I'll be doing a 90-minute Introduction To Ayurveda: What's A Dosha Anyway? workshop on Sunday, January 25 at 2:00 p.m. The cost is $25. Exhale Spa is located at 945 North State Street in Chicago. The phone number is 312.753.6500. You can reserve a place in advance by calling them or registering online. (Just follow the link below to the homepage and look for "workshops & events" under the "mind body classes" heading.)
Exhale Spa
lululemon
lululemon, if you don't already know it, is a great store for men's and women's athletic clothing and accessories. There are several in Chicago and many other cities. They love doing community events in their stores and we love them for this!
I'll have a table at two of their health-fair events in the Michigan Avenue store (900 North Michigan Avenue).
-The first has a "Love Your Body" theme and takes place on Saturday, February 14, 2009 from 1 pm to 3 pm.
-The second is a "Balance Your Environment" event that happens on Saturday, March 21, 2009 from 1 pm to 3 pm.
I'd love everyone to bring friends and come on over. I'll give you more details as I receive them!
lululemon athletica
|
Love,
Karen Klutznick
Ayurvedic Consultant & Educator
· KK@KKAyurveda.com · KK Ayurveda |
|
|
|
|
|
|
