Sautéed Tilapia PoBoy

Ingredients
Makes 2 sandwiches

Sandwich
2 (4-oz) tilapia filets
2 (6-in) slices (2-oz) Leidenheimer French Bread loaves, sliced open
1 medium sweet onion, sliced
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp parsley
2 tsp thyme
2 tsp rosemary
2 tsp granulated garlic

Sea salt and black pepper (to taste)
Non-stick skillet

Fixings 
Green leaf lettuce, chopped
Tomato slices
Extra-virgin olive oil mayo
Avocado slices
Roasted sweet potatoes

Directions
In a small bowl, mix together the salt, pepper, garlic, rosemary, thyme and parsley. Season both sides of the tilapia filets with seasoning mix and set aside for about 5 minutes.

In large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and filets. Cook fish about 5 to 8 minutes per side. Add onions and Worcestershire sauce. Cover and let simmer another 5 minutes or until onions are soft. Remove from heat.

Lightly toast French bread in oven. Spread mayo on one side. Add lettuce, tomatoes, avocados and tilapia filet. Top with other half of French bread.

Serve with roasted sweet potatoes.

The Benefits of Acupuncture!!

I have been hearing a lot of talk out in the world lately about Acupuncture. I have heard that it can help with common aches and pains, aid in weight loss, and even help increase fertility. But that's really all I knew, so below is a trip into the world of acupuncture.

Acupuncture is a branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with a rich history and lineage dating back thousands of years to ancient China. Acupuncture is truly a medical art, as each clinician uses various approaches, techniques and styles to address their patients’ conditions; no two patients are treated the same. An acupuncturist will pick a combination of points on the body called acupoints. These are regions that, when stimulated by hair-thin needles, will induce various therapeutic effects in the body, one of which is a pain-relieving effect. Once the needles are in the body, the acupuncturist will apply specific subtle and purposeful manipulations to the needles, such as twirling the needle clockwise, or counterclockwise, varying the depth of insertion, etc.

Even conventional medicine has begun paying closer attention to acupuncture. It is no longer looked upon as a fad, exotic, or as folk medicine. TCM is rooted in empirical evidence. This model of medicine was shaped by thousands of years of clinical experience by ancient Chinese physicians who did not have the technology we have today. Scientists are now working backward to determine exactly why you feel better when I stick small needles into your body! A tremendous amount of data is accumulating to support acupuncture’s complex influence over the body, especially the nervous system.Acupuncture is now available in many US hospitals and private practices. It’s even being used by the Department of Defense to treat our soldiers who are dealing with acute and chronic pain in war-torn areas such as Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Some Health Benefits of Acupuncture:

Ease Aches and Pains

Boost Effectiveness of Medicine

Aids Weight Loss

Dulls Headaches that persist

Soothes Indigestion

Increases Fertitity

Those are the most common benefits that can happen when doing acupuncture, there are many other benefits as well.

Your initial appointment with an acupuncturist will usually be the longest visit. You’ll undergo a detailed assessment from which a TCM diagnosis is made and appropriate treatment plan is developed. Acupuncturists are trained in various techniques and styles and use these techniques on a patient-by-patient basis.

Avoiding Toxic Chemicals found flame retardant furniture!!

Flame retardants while nice because they are resistant to fire, contain very harsh and dangerous chemicals. Chemicals that have been linked to birth defects, reduced fertility, hormonal disruptions, hyperactivity, diminished IQ and cancer. Below are  way to figure out if there are already these retardants in your furniture and therefore your house.

How to Spot retardants in your Home:

• TB-117 label-Inspect your upholstered furniture for a label that says “...meets the flammability requirements of California's Technical Bulletin 117...” TB-117 is an antiflammability requirement that resulted in furniture makers adding flame retardants to furniture. If your furniture bears this label, it is likely to contain them. If it does not, it still may contain them. Look for polyurethane foam. Flame retardants are primarily used to treat this type of foam, so if the furniture label includes polyurethane foam as one of the materials, that is a clue that the item may contain flame retardants.
• Manufactured Date-TB-117 went into effect in 1975 and at first affected only upholstered furniture sold in California. So if you bought polyurethane foam furniture in California after 1975, it likely contains flame retardants. However, furniture makers eventually found it too difficult to build one set of products for the Golden State and another for the rest of the country, so TB-117 became a defacto national standard. 
• Location of Puchase -(CEH) says if you bought polyurethane foam furniture outside of California between 1975 and 2000, it has about a 50/50 likelihood of containing these chemicals, but the more recent your purchase, the more likely that it contains flame retardants. Environmental Working Group also cautions that foam products made before 2005 are the most hazardous because older flame retardants were more toxic.
• Likely Products that Contain- Flame retardants are also sometimes used in other products such as electronics, carpet padding and building materials. Testing by Duke University has found them in children’s products such as car seats, changing table pads, nap mats and nursing pillows.

How to Minimize exposure if you do have flame retardant furniture:

• Mop/dust/vacuum-Researchers believe flame-retardant chemicals come out of our furniture in the form of dust. They recommend frequent cleaning to capture that dust, especially dusting with a damp cloth, and vacuuming with a vacuum that has a HEPA filter, which captures dust.
• Wash your hands- To avoid ingesting flame retardant dust, wash your hands early and often – especially before eating and especially young children’s hands, since they tend to put their hands in their mouths a lot.
• Inspect foam-Inspect your furniture and children’s gear for exposed, ripped or misshapen foam. Get rid of what you can and make sure the rest is fully encased in a protective cover. Some activists suggest you not reupholster polyurethane foam furniture, since you don’t want to keep those chemicals around any longer than you have to. Alternatively, others suggest you can replace the polyurethane foam in your existing furniture with other types of foam that are not treated with flame retardants.
• Re-carpet carefully-Foam carpet padding often contains flame retardant chemicals. For that reason, when you are ready to replace your carpeting, some suggest you isolate the room where there is carpet work and then clean up afterward with a HEPA-filter vacuum.

Tips for buying flame-retardant-free furniture in the future:

• Choose other padding-The majority of furniture is made with polyurethane foam, but there are other choices, such as down, wool stuffing or polyester fiberfill. These may be less likely to be treated with flame-retardants.
• Try other styles-Choose non-padded styles, such as furniture made of wood or wicker. Also consider materials that are naturally less flammable like leather and wool.
• Buy after 2014-2015-Late in 2013, California revised the rule that effectively required manufacturers to use flame retardants in their furniture. Now, instead of having to pass an open flame test, the rule requires a smolder test. This will enable furniture to pass without the use of flame retardants. California did not ban flame retardants, but it did give manufacturers a way to voluntarily stop using them and many are expected to stop. 
• Look for the TB117-2013 label-The new standard comes with a new label, which will say “TB117-2013” since the change was made in 2013. Manufacturers can begin using it in January 2014 and must use it after January 2015.
• Ask retailers-Just because the revised California rule enables manufacturers to leave out flame retardants, doesn’t mean they definitely will. The more people who ask, the more the furniture industry will know that this matters to consumers.
• Seek out “green” furniture-Already, some manufacturers have recognized that many customers are concerned about flame retardants. 
• Look for certifications-Certifications for low chemical emissions are in their infancy, but the more people who buy and request certified products, the more there will be.Greenguard, part of Underwriters Laboratories, certifies furniture, paint and other office and household products. Scientific Certification Systems is another certifier. For carpeting, look for the "Green Label Plus" created by the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI).

Warm Christmas Pea Soup!!

Another delicious and healthy recipe from former model and patient Ada Uduma. This soup with warm you up and give you a healthy start to your holiday week.

Ingredients

Makes 2 servings 

6 oz green peas

1 chef's potato, peeled, diced and cooked 

1 medium red onion, chopped

1 tbsp ginger, chopped

1 clove garlic, chopped

1 twig fresh oregano, chopped

1 twig fresh coriander, chopped

1 tbsp spring onions, chopped

1 bay leaf

1 tbsp light soy sauce

1 tbsp olive oil

3 tbsp crème fraîche

6 oz vegetable broth

Salt and pepper (to taste)

Directions

In a medium saucepan, sweat the onions, ginger and garlic in olive oil. Add the peas and stir for about 5 minutes. Do not burn.

Deglaze with vegetable broth, and bring mixture to a boil. Let simmer for 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Transfer mixture into a blender and purée together with the cooked potato until fine. Pour mixture back into the pan under medium heat.

Add the remaining ingredients, and let simmer for an additional 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper to your taste.

To serve, spoon a generous amount into a bowl, with a swirl of crème fraîche. Garnish with some potato chips for the crunch.

Enjoy!

Keep Calm and Christmas On!!

This is suppose to the most wonderful time of year, but with parties, present to buy and the endless to-do list. Well its starts to feel more overwhelming than festive. For some people this time of year is just a stressful mess, but it doesn't have to be, below are some simple ways to prevent that.

Holiday Cards-If you want to go the old-fashioned route and send holiday greetings via snail mail, but don’t have everyone’s current address, you can use e-card technology to your advantage. 

Budget-If you can’t afford to get everyone Christmas presents this year, then don’t get everyone Christmas presents this year. The key is to set ground rules and expectations, says Kelley Keehn, a financial expert and author of The Woman’s Guide to Money. "There’s no shame in suggesting to your friends that you all forego gifts in favor of treating yourselves to a fun dinner out," says Keehn. The same goes for family: Instead of buying presents for all the nieces and nephews, join forces with your siblings to be in charge of stocking duty or splitting the cost of one big present, instead of five more toys that they may already have.

Holiday Parties-It’s all right to skip a few non-essential events (read: not your office holiday party), says Chloe Carmichael, Ph.D., a therapist in private practice in Manhattan. "Think of holiday parties like cookies. It’s tempting to eat the whole batch, but you’re better off in the long run just having a few." Sort the invites by asking yourself why you want to go. If it’s to catch up with friends or family, go forth and mingle. But if it’s because you would feel guilty declining, are hoping to meet a man, or just plain old FOMO (fear of missing out), then it’s fine to send your regrets.

Diet Disasters-So you hit the eggnog a little hard. That doesn’t mean you’ll instantly gain 10 pounds or your favorite little black dress won’t fit once New Years rolls around. "Average weekly caloric intake matters most," says Dian Griesel, Ph.D., co-author of TurboCharged: Accelerate Your Fat Burning Metabolism, Get Lean Fast and Leave Diet and Exercise Rules in the Dust. Griesel says not to think of an indulgence as a major mishap, but rather as a dietary detour. "The trick is to find ways to compensate by lightening calorie intake and upping exercise on days when there aren’t parties," she advises. For instance, make a rule to not eat at work. Look forward to – and indulge in! – your favorites and special treats like mom’s apple pie; don’t waste empty calories on store bought red and green cookies getting stale near the water cooler.
Family Guilt Trips-Is an awkward conversation about your relationship or childbearing status just as much a tradition as tree trimming or turkey roasting? That’s actually good news, says Carmichael. Why? "Since it won’t catch you off guard, you can pre-plan how you’ll handle the interaction," she says. Knowing you have a plan will decrease the anticipatory stress. Try the broken record technique: "No matter how many times you’re asked a question, like when you’ll have a baby, just smile and say the same thing." Lines like, "I’ll let you know as soon as I know," or, "My, you have a lot of questions," work on two fronts. The nagging party will finally get the hint that they won’t get any news from you, and you’ll avoid having to go through a difficult or emotional explanation.

Is Your Medication Causing You to Gain Weight?

Its very frustrating when you eat right and exercise and you still gain weight. But the reason why, may shock you. It may be your medications that are causing you to gain weight and you dont even know it. Check out the list of medications below and see if you are taking something that could cause your unexpected weight gain.

Antidepressants

• Certain monoamine oxidase inhibitors, including phenelzine, isocarboxazid and tranylcypromine.
• Certain tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). Tertiary TCAs including amitriptyline, imipramine and doxepin tend to cause the most weight gain. Secondary TCAs desipramine and nortriptyline may cause mild weight gain.
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may less commonly cause weight gain (paroxetine in particular, in addition to fluoxetine or citalopram).
• Tetracyclic antidepressant mirtazapine.

Antipsychotics

• Many antipsychotics, including chlorpromazine, clozapine, fluphenazine, haloperidol, olanzapine, risperidone, sertindole, thioridazine, mesoridazine and rarely quetiapine. 

Anticonvulsants/Mood Stabilizers

• Medications such as valproic acid, carbamazepine (rarely), lithium, gabapentin and vigabatrin.

Migraine Medications

• As mentioned in above categories, certain medications that are also used to treat migraines, like gabapentin, valproic acid, SSRIs and TCAs.

Beta Blockers

• Beta blockers including propranolol, atenolol and metoprolol, which are used to treat a variety of cardiac issues, may cause weight gain, possibly due to fluid retention or other factors.

Calcium Channel Blockers

• Flunarizine, which is not available in the U.S. One study suggested that verapamil may cause weight gain in some people as well. Anyone who rapidly gains weight after starting a calcium channel blocker should consult their doctor right away.

Alpha Agonist Anti-Hypertensive

• Clonidine rarely causes weight gain.

Diabetes Medications

• Insulin.
• Most sulfonylurea medications including tolazamide and glipizide.
• Non-sulfonylurea secretagogues repaglinide and nateglinide and thiazolidinediones like rosiglitazone or pioglitazone have been reported to cause weight gain.

Hormones

• Many studies have debunked the idea that birth control pills cause weight gain, but they may cause a slight increase in water retention. However, medroxyprogesterone acetate (also known as Depo-Provera) or the etonogestrel implant, other forms of birth control, may cause weight gain.
• Megestrol acetate, a hormone sometimes used to stimulate appetite in cancer patients or other conditions that cause weight loss.
• Corticosteroids such as prednisone that are used to treat inflammatory conditions, especially if used long-term.

Cholesterol/Lipid-Lowering Drugs

• Clofibrate may cause slight weight gain, but is not commonly used.

Antihistamines

• Chronic use of antihistamines such as loratadine, cyproheptadine, fexofenadine, cetirizine and diphenhydramine.

Antiretrovirals

• Protease inhibitors often used to treat HIV, including stavudine, zalcitabine, didanosine, lopinavir/ritonavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, saquinavir/ritonavir.

Cancer-Fighting Agents

• Cancer-fighting drugs cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil, aromatase inhibitors and tamoxifen.

Please Note that while some people may gain weight taking these medications, not everyone will . If you find you are gaining weight after starting a new medication, check with your doctor to make sure the weight gain is safe and talk about possible ways to combat it. As always we want to be able to live a healthy lifestyle free from medications, and chemicals. 

Are You Caffeine Sensitive!?!?

Most people love caffeine, and a lot of people even depend on improve energy and mental focus. Some don't even realize, but they have caffeine sensitivity that is causing some adverse effects. Caffeine sensitivity is a condition in which a person develops symptoms such as irritability and/or anxiety after caffeine consummation. Also the severity of sensitivity can also vary between individuals. Some people are highly sensitive to even small amounts of caffeine, while others don't feel any effects after consuming large amounts of caffeine.

Caffeine Sensitivity Symptoms:
Restlessness
Irritability
Anxiety
Muscle Tremors
Nausea
Irregular HeartBeat
Caffeine Headaches
Disruption in Sleep Pattern

Even worse than caffeine sensitivity, is a condition even more serious that some people have called Caffeine Intolerance. Those with caffeine intolerance experience severe adverse reactions to even amounts of caffeine. Caffeine intolerance includes all the symptoms of sensitivity to caffeine but with greater severity, and additional, include seizures and rash. 

Those who are more prone to sensitivity are usually people who do not normally consume coffee or any caffeinated beverages. Smoking, body weight and stress, also contribute to the likelihood of experiencing the symptoms. Also those who have already been diagnosed with a nervous disorder are usually more prone to the symptoms. Men seem to more prone to caffeine sensitivity than women.

There is really no cure or medication you can take, the best thing to treat sensitivity is to reduce or even eliminate caffeine. Being educated on what contains caffeine and what amount you can handle with also help to eliminate symptoms.