The holidays can be the best of times and the worst of times.  They're full of family, friends and FOOD!!!  And as hard as you try to hit the gym, avoid the party buffets, and skip the sugary cocktails, travel can throw your healthy living into a tail spin.  Here are a few tips and tricks to help you beat the backlash of airline travel so you can be the sexiest POA under the mistletoe.  

1. Hydrate: This might be an obvious one, but it's super important.  When we fly, our bodies become even more dehydrated.  Oftentimes when we're thirsty our mind registers it as hunger and we overeat.  Staying hydrated is the best way to prevent overeating in the airport.

2. Come prepared: Airports have come a long way in the last few years when it comes to healthier options, but they still have a long way to go.  Make sure to pack your carry-on full of healthy and filling options.  Stock nuts, roasted chickpeas, fruit and easily transportable veggies like carrots.  I've even been known to bring brown rice tortillas in my purse!  Hey, a girls gotta eat!

3. Beat the bloat: My favorite way get rid of extra water weight from plane travel is to drink detox tea.  Look for a tea with milk thistle and dandelion root.  Milk thistle supports liver detox and dandelion root is a natural diuretic so you'll be sure to get rid of those "cankles" you acquired in-flight.  

4. Moisturize: Our skin can take a beating from airline travel.  Pop some moisturizer in your bag so you can use it in-flight.  Additionally, if you want to arrive looking even more fresh, try using a cloth face mask while flying.  It might not look the prettiest, but it will certainly keep you hydrated.  

5. Protect yourself: Airplanes are breading grounds for germs.  Additionally, when we fly our nasal passages become dry and cracked- making them more susceptible to virus' and bacteria.  Take some extra zinc and vitamin c before and after you fly.  You can also use saline solution in your nose to help prevent dryness.  (pro tip: wipe down remotes, tray tables and screens as they rarely get cleaned). 

6. Move & Stretch: Long flights can put people at risk of DVT, a blood clot that forms in the legs, which can be extremely hazardous to your health.  Stretch before getting on the plane and get up every hour to move around the cabin and get your blood flowing.  

7. Layer up: Scientists at Yale University concluded that when we're cold our immunity suffers, making us more susceptible illness.  Since cabin temperatures are often all over the place, bring a few layering pieces to make sure you're not left out in the cold.  

How do you stay well when you travel?  We'd love to hear your tips.  

By Sarah Sajdak, MS, Licensed Acupuncturist 

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the healthiest way to live is with the seasons. Depending on where you live, your diet may differ from someone many miles away.

In the fall season, our bodies and surroundings change from Yang to Yin. Just like the trees, our bodies’ energy turns inward. Though we don’t have control over the seasons, they are predictable and cyclical, allowing us to adapt by adjusting how we eat, breathe, and move.

Foods we eat should be cooked and moistening. It is also important to eat foods that tonify the Lung Qi, because in TCM the lungs are directly associated with the immune system. These include soups and stews and other hearty, cooked foods. The fall air often causes dry skin, eyes and nose. Eat Yin-nourishing foods such as pears and bananas to keep your body moist.

As you move through fall, do so with a covered neck! People often joke, “You can spot acupuncturists by their scarves.” We acupuncturists love to keep our necks covered. You’ll see us in the summer wearing tank tops and scarves. On the beach we will wear swimsuits and yes, a ‘lil wrap around our shoulders and neck. This is because the Lung Shu points of the spine are located just below base of neck. Why are the lungs so important to protect? According to TCM, the lungs are the most superficial, and therefore, the most vulnerable organ. Therefore, they are the first organ to experience autumnal changes (cold, dry air!).

Ever notice that when a chilly breeze blows on your back, you contract your neck and shoulder muscles, causing them to become stiff and painful? Or that when you first “catch a cold,” the back of your neck feels stiff? In TCM, when wind or a draft blows on the back of your unprotected neck, the cold air enters your body causing stiffness and pain. In other words, you literally “catch a cold.” The energy normally tasked to heat your body is instead used to fend off sickness. This leads to a cascade of imbalances in the body causing chills, fever, malaise, sore throat, and congestion. I encourage you to wear a scarf this fall and notice whether you “catch colds” less often than usual.

You probably understand by now that in TCM, the lungs must be protected, especially in the fall. So how else do we strengthen the Lung Qi? You can use reverse abdominal breathing, which directs the Qi towards your inner organs to strengthen overall Qi. In normal breathing, your belly expands as you inhale, and shrinks when you exhale. Reverse abdominal breathing is the opposite: Shrink your belly as you inhale, and expand your belly as you exhale!

Some of my favorite essential oils of fall include:

Rosemary - relieves respiratory problems

Ravensara -  a powerful antiseptic, antibacterial and antiviral  

Pine - protects against sinus infections and boosts the immune system

Orange - an antiseptic that also helps relieve depression, great for seasonal affective disorder

Camphor & Eucalyptus - decongestants

You can inhale a few drops of these oils in your palms, add them to massage oil to hydrate the skin and senses, or diffuse them into the air with an electric or candle diffuser. Those of you who have been to my office know that I’m totally into mixing and matching my own essential oil blends and that I base these blends on the day, season, current weather, and overall universal and astrological center of things.

Fall Recipe

Warm the Stomach Congee

Congee is a rice porridge that people in many Asian countries, especially China, eat for breakfast. Have this congee on especially cold days when you are too lazy to get out of the house. It will warm you right up and give you lots of energy. It also boosts your immune system, and is extremely easy to make!

Ingredients*

fresh ginger (sheng jiang) 6g

clove flower bud (ding xiang) 6g

dried cinnamon bark (rou gui) 6g

orange / citrus / tangerine peel (chen pi) 6g

chicken or veggie broth 3-5 cups

rice** 60g

salt, to taste

Instructions

1. Bag the fresh ginger, clove flower bud, dried cinnamon bark, and orange peel in a cheesecloth.

2. Cook the rice with broth, cheesecloth of herbs, and salt.

3. Enjoy!

*You can purchase these herbs in any Chinese supermarket. I would recommend Kamwo Herbal Pharmacy in Chinatown.

**For people avoiding gluten, you may substitute quinoa or another grain of your choice.

www.aquariusacupuncture.com

By Casey Sharbaugh

If you are conscious about taking care of your health and overall wellbeing, chances are you understand the importance of using all-natural beauty formulations. If not, remember that your skin is your largest organ. That means that if you’re concerned about the chemicals you're ingesting, you should also be concerned with the chemicals you are applying since they will inevitably make their way into your bloodstream. Luckily, there is an absolute plethora of safe brands that specialize in products that are actually good for your body.

Beauty routines should change according to the seasons. During the stifling hot temperatures of the summer, the last thing you need (or want!) is thick and creamy formulas. Here are the top six items to add to your summer beauty arsenal ASAP:

1. Grown Alchemist Matte Balancing Moisturizer ($69)

This mattefying, non-greasy moisturizer leaves skin balanced and radiant. It is chock-full of natural ingredients such as rice bran and tomato to give you that much coveted glow.

2. Dr. Bronner’s Fair Trade & Organic Castile Liquid Soap ($16)

Do you ever get home after a long summer day and feel like your skin is covered in a day's worth of dirt and grime?  Oldie but goodie Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap will wash all that away without disturbing your skin's natural moisture barrier. Even better, it is certified organic and vegan.

3. Bottega Organiza Relaxing Eye Mist ($38)

Whether your eyes are puffy from a night on the town or looking sallow from lack of sleep, this product is sure to soothe. High mallow and garden thyme work with olive leaf extract and cucumber to relax and rejuvenate.

4. FIG+YARROW Cleansing Nectar ($30)

Cleansing and exfoliating your face is crucial in the summer since it will evitably be covered in sweat and sunscreen. The key is to deeply clean, but in a non-irritating way. FIG+YARROW’s Cleansing Nectar is a washless cleanser/toner to draw out impurities while also balancing your skin’s natural pH. Use it once and you’ll never wash your face any other way again!

5. Beautycounter Protect All Over Sunscreen SPF 30 ($26)

SPF should be used all year round, but is especially important when exposing yourself to harsh UV rays at the pool or beach. Many sunscreens on the market are unfortunately full of scary chemicals, but Beautycounter’s protects with non-nano zinc oxide, a completely safe mineral.

6. Aubrey Organics Green Tea Clarifying Shampoo ($12)

Whether it is perspiration, saltwater or chlorine, your locks are sure to be filled with things OTHER than what you want in it during the summer. Additionally, your oil glands will inevitably go into overdrive as the temperatures rise. To gently but effectively cleanse your scalp of these irritants, use this shampoo with both matcha green tea and ginseng extract.

Casey Sharbaugh is a New York City resident who works in the fashion industry. In her spare time, you can find Casey working out, writing, trying new beauty products, or browsing the city for the best ice cream cone or green smoothie (not simultaneously). Check out her personal blog www.comfortablycasey.com

Watermelon is always a regular at summer soirees.  When chilled, there's nothing quite like it.  But what if you could up the ante from the run-of-the-mill sliced melon and bring this fancy-looking watermelon cake?  And what if I told you it was super easy to make?  Well you can, and it is!  All you'll need is a few simple ingredients and about 25 minutes.  

Ingredients:

1 small watermelon 

1 16 ounce packet of coconut meat

4 tbsp of agave or raw honey

2 tsps of vanilla 

2 tbsp of lemon

2 tbsp of melted coconut oil

1/4 tsp of salt

Berries for garnish

Directions

Cut the top and bottom off your watermelon so it's flat like a cake.  Cut the rind off the perimeter of the melon and try to make it as curved as possible.  I struggled with this part : ) Set your melon in the fridge.

For the icing, blending the coconut meat, lemon juice, agave/honey, vanilla, coconut oil and salt until it is pureed.  Place it in the fridge until it's hardened quite a bit.  I kept it in the freezer for about 20 minutes.  It needs to be firm enough to hold onto the melon, but liquid enough to smooth out across the cake.  Once it's firm, smooth it across your cake with a knife or spatula.  Top off with the berries of your choice and smile broadly when everyone tells you how great it tastes : )