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Face Reading with Before & After Photos
If you’re concerned that you might have SIBO, (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), a glance in the mirror will inform you either way. Face Reading, a form of traditional Chinese medicine, correlates your small intestine’s health with the muscle tone of your inner lower lip. In seconds, you can easily apply this useful self-test. When you… Continue Reading
Here’s how to know which supplement is best for you The multiple forms of magnesium supplements differ significantly in their absorbability, their impact on the bowels and their desired benefits. So which supplement is right for you? Get savvy and choose accordingly. Magnesium is a necessary supplement for most of us these days. It reduces… Continue Reading
When blue veins show across your child’s nose bridge, she’s not at her best according to Traditional Chinese Face Reading. These veins, as we see below, are found in the very young whose diets are typically high in sweets and other inflammatory foods. This explains their Japanese name, kanmushi, or “sugar bug.” Continue Reading
Besides the inconvenience and discomfort, there’s a more important reason that frequent bouts of diarrhea are problematic. Chronically loose bowels signal malabsorption and, if unchecked, can lead to overall weakness and declining health. However, an occasional incident, triggered by the flu or travel, is actually quite normal and so no cause for fretting. Here are… Continue Reading
Here’s an effective Chinese kitchen remedy for a queasy stomach: charred garlic tea. It may sound strange, but its flavor is surprisingly mild and pleasant and, most important, it quells gas, diarrhea and a stomach ache. Regular (uncharred) garlic tea brings support to the gastrointestinal tract and stimulates one’s innate energy. But when the garlic… Continue Reading
Feel Better – Sleep Better A hot ginger foot bath is a feel-good remedy that supports sound sleep and helps calm the parasympathetic nervous center. Additionally, it promotes circulation, reduces inflammation and helps drive out bacteria and viruses. As ginger both warms and energizes, it is especially useful during cold weather. During hot weather, enjoy… Continue Reading
Blood sugar irregularities underly varicose and spider veins according to Five Element Traditional Chinese Medical (TCM). This is also true for hemorrhoids, which are nothing more than swollen veins in the anus, as well as the vulvar varicosity experienced by some pregnant women. And the more translucent skin of infants and toddlers can display swollen “sugar… Continue Reading
Giving yourself an abdominal massage is an easy and powerful way to support your digestion and overall health. Commit to a five- to ten-minute session a day for two weeks and the benefits will inspire you to make it part of your daily ritual. Aim to give yourself an abdominal massage prior to breakfast; to… Continue Reading
For proactive healthcare, a basic understanding of biofilms is a requisite. The term biofilm refers to organic life forms (bacteria, yeasts and other microorganisms) that develop an extracellular matrix or, to be more graphic, a slimy film. Biofilms are a living, self-protective community that can develop and stick to any surface—living or otherwise—that is exposed to… Continue Reading
The Coca Pulse Test is a simple measurement you can do at home to know which foods strengthen you and which ones make you sick. You’ll find the steps below. I offer this method because it is scientifically sound. However, a faster technique–and the one I personally rely on–is muscle testing or kinesiology. Many chiropractors… Continue Reading
Castor Oil Packs—An Effective Home Remedy A warm castor oil pack is an ancient and effective treatment for a wide variety of health conditions. Applied externally, a pack increases lymphocyte (disease-fighting cell) production and thereby boosts immunity. (1) This aids in more efficient removal of toxins. The oil is derived from the seed of castor… Continue Reading
Self-Test to Determine if a Low-Histamine Diet Will Help Resolve Your Health Issues. If you suffer from allergic-like symptoms, suspect hypersensitivities to multiple foods, or have chronic health complaints, histamines might be the problem. There are no medical tests for histamine sensitivity and very few health professionals identify or treat this condition. But it’s not… Continue Reading
If you have nagging health complaints, you might be one of the increasing numbers of people with sensitivities to naturally occurring chemicals in foods such as salicylates. Guest blogger Maribeth Evezich, RD, offers information on sensitivities caused by salicylates (suh–lis-uh-leyts) to help you get a handle on–and resolve–your health issues. What Are Salicylates and Where Are… Continue Reading
Maribeth Evezich will post a guest blog here on August 1, 2016. It includes: – What are salicylates and where are they found? – How do salicylates work and how can they be a problem? – I think I’m salicylate intolerant. Now what? – Where to get help. Do revisit us. Thanks for your patience.… Continue Reading
Acid Indigestion and Heartburn – What’s Going on Down There? The pain caused by acid indigestion and heartburn is your tummy’s way of saying, “Ouch! What you’re eating hurts!” What to do? You can medicate to squelch the pain or you can avoid the foods that have become toxic for your system. While popping a pill… Continue Reading
Dear Rebecca: The color on my face is much darker than my neck, it’s not from a tan and it didn’t used to be this way. It makes me look weird. What can I do? –Tonya Dear Tonya: You’re right, skin color can change and I’ll tell you how to regain your normal color. See… Continue Reading
Dear Rebecca: I started keeping a food diary as you suggested. It was really, really awful. It was too embarrassing to show anyone. I was grazing the entire day until supper, my one square meal. I was feeling stuck. So I said to myself, “I need to be gluten-free. I’m going to go gluten free.… Continue Reading
You can resolve or mitigate autoimmune disease. If you suffer from progressively worsening symptoms that baffle your doctor, or if you’re diagnosed with a chronic disease, then odds are it’s autoimmune related. In autoimmunity, your immune system mistakenly attacks your healthy cells. Autoimmune disease (AD) refers to a varied group of illnesses that involve every… Continue Reading
People frequently ask me what stainless steel cookware line I recommend. My first response is to think twice before buying a full line. If you own a 21-piece set of cookware, I’ll wager that two or three of those pots get regular use but that the other pieces are crammed in the back of an… Continue Reading
Science now explains why going GFDF is so hard. We’ll look at that, and then the encouraging news: If you tried going without but backslid, you still have made inroads in realizing your GFDF goals. But first take a few seconds and imagine feeling utterly content. You’ve nary a suggestion of pain or suffering. You’re… Continue Reading
You can taste for yourself that cooking in a clay pot delivers the most satisfying results. Or, right now, you can use your imagination to get a feel for it. Imagine cooking three potatoes. Cook one potato in stainless steel, the second in aluminum foil, and the third in an earthenware (unglazed clay) pot. The potato… Continue Reading
Since the 1980s I’ve cherished 100% ceramic cookware. To understand why, let’s consider roasted marshmallows. Some folks like to quickly toast/scorch the outside of their marshmallows, while others carefully slow-roast their soft little pillows until the heat deeply penetrates the core, enhancing the flavor throughout and—careful now—melting the sticky goodness right off the twig. Because… Continue Reading
Even though icicles bedeck the eaves here in my southern Oregon home, the markets are full of lush and wondrous fruits and vibrant salad greens that may look inviting but literally make you cold. This is because some foods have a chilling effect on the body that dampens our inner fire. While many foods are… Continue Reading
After decades of working from home, I’m now commuting. My office is a pleasant 15-minute walk from my temporary cabin, which lacks Internet access. So it’s through the deep woods, mindful of the poison oak, and then a hop over Rock Creek to complete my commute. As fresh bear scat on the path proclaims that… Continue Reading
Recently while cooking a community meal, my friend Lynne was excited to prepare a favorite broccoli dish. But as we didn’t have one of the ingredients on hand, toasted sesame oil, Lynne lost confidence in her ability to prepare the broccoli. I suggested various alternative seasonings, but as she couldn’t imagine how they would taste,… Continue Reading
A recent client, Jane, expressed her profound worry about her 13-year-old-son, Kyle, who is acting out in extreme and inappropriate ways. Kyle lives on shoddy carbs. She asked if I could change his diet. “No, I cannot. Unless, that is, Kyle is willing to explore options,” is the best I could offer. While upgrading a… Continue Reading
At the very first sign of a flu or cold here’s a recipe for beating it. Note it’s important to drink this tea within the first 24 hours of onset, for, as my acupuncturist Leslie Shanai, Lic.Ac. writes, “Once the disease has gotten a good foothold ginger tea will no longer be effective. It may… Continue Reading
Sure, steaming is a healthy, quick and easy cooking method. But if you bought the line that “steamed veggies are most healthful” I’ve got some lovely news for you: To heighten dining pleasure as well as the medicinal and energetic properties of foods, using diverse cooking techniques is best. Here are two reasons why. Vive… Continue Reading
If you’re eating blueberries regularly because you’ve been told they’re a superfood, then you may have been duped. Yes, blueberries have a great nutritional profile. Yes, they may play a role in disease prevention. But let’s use our critical intelligence. A frequent serving of blueberries is nothing to write home about and certainly not worth… Continue Reading
Three Steps to Identify Food Allergies If you have cut gluten from your diet but still have health complaints, then I have important news for you. Here are three likely reasons that you are still suffering from the various symptoms that eating gluten-containing foods can trigger. 1. For 100% results you must give up gluten 100%. The… Continue Reading
Be savvy about harmful and healthful sweeteners. Here’s a list of the three kinds of sweeteners to avoid along with their various brand names. You’ll find details for those to favor at Quality Sweetener Guidelines. Armed with the information below about the “bad” sugars, you can now ignore various marketing claims for “natural” cane sugars and all sugar… Continue Reading
If you’re ready to tackle your bad food habits, there’s relief at hand. It’s free and takes just a split second. Here’s the assignment: Next time you are reaching for the chips (or chocolate, or pizza, or whatever) imagine taking a snapshot. End of assignment. Put a lot of detail into your mental photo: the… Continue Reading
First, the good news: Quality sugar is part of a healthy diet! So your opportunity is to discern the good sweeteners from the bad ones and then to enjoy natural sweeteners occasionally rather than daily. For details about why to avoid agave, fructose, noncaloric sweeteners and many “natural” cane products like muscavado, see Sweeteners to Avoid. Here’s… Continue Reading
Ignore the Slick Advertising for Non-Stick A non-stick, synthetic surface on cookware, is less durable than the underlying metal and is therefore reactive and toxic. With use, the coating will pit, scratch and wear off from the pan and into your food. Don’t be seduced by advertisements for nonstick cookware. And don’t despair; there are safe,… Continue Reading
If you’re one of the many people who suffer from sugar cravings (as I did for years) here’s the secret to free yourself! Eat three satisfying meals a day. Here’s why: When satisfied, you need nothing more. But if your last meal fell short, if you didn’t get adequate nutrients, then it’s a chain reaction:… Continue Reading
Today many people do not easily assimilate dairy and or beans. If this is your situation, then until you regain your digestive prowess, perhaps it’s time for some chicken soup. Simply put, if you’re not feeling your best then the protein in a bite of fish, poultry or meat is easier to digest than is… Continue Reading
Five Element Medicine and Bone Health A time tested way to prevent osteoporosis is with diet and a helpful model for understanding this comes from traditional Chinese Five Element medicine (TCM). According to this system, you can retard bone fragility, which is a natural process of aging, by taking good care of your kidneys (Water… Continue Reading
I’ve been offering Diet Consultations for decades, meeting up with all kinds of people to examine the clues in their health history and diet log; to diagnostically read their face; and to deduce the causes of their health challenges. In this eminently fascinating and satisfying work, I think of myself as something of a dietary… Continue Reading
If you feel unsteady on a stairway, you grab the banister to steady yourself. Likewise, if your child’s (or your) brain chemistry is off-kilter with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), favoring healthy foods supports equilibrium. ADHD describes individuals who have trouble with concentration, impulse control and, in some cases, hyperactivity. They find that eating a… Continue Reading
Inflamed tissues signal trouble and are a marker for pain and illness. Below is a listing of the top anti-inflammatory foods, along with common sense help to avoid chronic inflammation. But first, to better understand why some foods increase inflammation, let’s examine the nature of inflammation. Recall having a little scratch that became pink and… Continue Reading
It’s hay fever season and how many times have you moaned (and sneezed) about that darn pollen! So why is it that your swollen eyelids and other allergic responses get worse every year but the amount of pollen remains constant? While pollen may be the trigger, it’s taking the bum rap for the underlying issue… Continue Reading
Bacteria, Viruses and Other Parasites in Children and Adults If your immune system is challenged, the odds are that you’re harboring more parasites than just bacteria and viruses. Low immunity invites additional parasites including: fungi, yeast, pinworms, tapeworms, flukes, roundworms and/or intestinal parasites. You can get rid of pinworms and their cronies and you can… Continue Reading
Here are natural remedies to help you glide through menopause. The strategies I discuss below can help shift uncomfortable hot flashes toward mild and enjoyable ripples of energy. As a woman’s ovaries retire from active production around the age of 50, her body’s hormone production adjusts. Just as puberty signaled an increase in estrogen hormones,… Continue Reading
Nothing’s wrong with wheat or any whole food. That they’ve nurtured countless generations for eons proves their value. Plus, they’re versatile and many of our favorite and most tasty foods contain wheat. So what’s the fuss? The answer is not about the wheat or another allergen; rather it’s about your digestive system. If you’re not… Continue Reading
If you bloat easily, have weight, skin, autoimmune or digestive problems the odds are that diary is a culprit. Perhaps you’ve noticed that you do ok with some dairy products but not all. Furthermore, sometimes a bowl of ice cream doesn’t cause problems but another time it does. How confusing! Here’s a guide to help you… Continue Reading
Enhanced flavor is the first of three important reasons to soak grains, beans, nuts and seeds. To further blossom the flavor of these seeds, they can also be fermented or sprouted. In your mind’s eye, mentally compare the full, rich flavors and aromas of fermented sourdough bread to the more simple aroma and flavor profile… Continue Reading
Today, negative reactions to food are endemic. A simple food, like wheat or a peanut, is not a toxin in and of itself. However if you’re not fully absorbing wheat and continue eating it, this can lead to an autoimmune disease which has life long repercussions. You don’t want to go there; and you don’t… Continue Reading
Is soy a good or a bad food? Here’s how to identify and enjoy healthful soy products and to avoid the poor quality ones. But first, purchase only organic soy foods. As over ninety percent of soybeans on today’s market are genetically modified it is imperative to use only organic (non GMO) soy products. Inherently, soy… Continue Reading
The good news for people with hypoglycemia, or a pre-diabetic condition, is that specific foods—plus a healthy diet—help stabilize blood sugar. Here’s the tasty way to prevent diabetes. Let’s look at diet first because it’s foundational. To have a couple of “good” foods in an otherwise sloppy diet probably won’t help your condition. But an… Continue Reading
If you suffer from an autoimmune disease, become a sleuth—daily track your flare-ups and remissions. That its intensity waxes and wanes is a key to help you take control of your health. In your daily log include your diet and any other variables that might relate to your condition. Each entry on the log becomes… Continue Reading
Accompanying recipe: Millet and Buckwheat Waffles Once you’ve clearly identified your food allergies and sensitivities, you could avoid those foods for the rest of your life. But that’s just taking care of the symptoms. Instead, resolve to cure your food sensitivities. Your digestive system was designed to digest food. But if it can’t handle, for… Continue Reading
Horrors at the thought of eating broccoli every day just because it may help to prevent cancer. With such an abundance of delicious, health-promoting vegetables to choose from, please enjoy a wide variety. Yes, broccoli does contain a class of potent anti-carcinogens (cancer-combating agents) called isothiocyanates. Of the millions of plant chemicals contained in our… Continue Reading
Accompanying recipe: Buckwheat Crepes If you are among the fast growing population that is allergic to gluten, don’t despair. Here’s how to enjoy bread, pasta and cookies…albeit, wheat-free. First, identify any problematic foods that trigger your reactions and then avoid eating them while your digestive system repairs. Wheat and dairy are the most common allergens.… Continue Reading
Lupus is a sobering condition; however, as an original cause was malabsorption, you can profoundly minimize its effects and progression by improving your digestion. This is true for all other autoimmune diseases. When your diet is healing, you rebuild your foundational health and strengthen your immune system. Also see Prevent or Resolve Autoimmune Disease. How… Continue Reading
Iron deficiency is a common problem and one that you can correct naturally. Here’s how to favor iron-rich foods and avoid those foods that deplete your iron. Health professionals agree that iron deficiency is a common problem and that there are two obvious ways to remedy the situation. However, their recommendations vary. Alternative health professionals… Continue Reading
If you frequently have an upset stomach or acid reflux then it shows in your face, specifically the region just above your lip. With amazingly specific detail, the Chinese art of Face Reading enables us to “read” digestive issues in the face. When you’ve chronically eaten a diet that is irritating your stomach, then the central… Continue Reading
Here’s how to use a wide variety of brightly colored vegetables to keep your vision healthy. Macular degeneration—a leading cause of blindness—is preventable. Helping prevent macular degeneration (MD) is as near at hand as corn and collards. Lutein and zeaxanthin (ze.a.xan.thin), the two carotenoid pigments that color yellow and green produce, are the responsible antioxidants.… Continue Reading
When you find really fresh green beans, buy them on the spot and put the water on to boil. Refrigerated beans quickly lose their flavor and oomph. If the beans are less than fresh, you may wish to sauté them with an onion or use them in a soup or casserole where other veggies will shore up their… Continue Reading
Perhaps you’ve noticed how a little fresh garnish in a soup enlivens the whole bowl, as does the cilantro in this Tai Style Turkey Meatball Soup with Noodles. As we know from experience, both cooked and raw vegetables have their own benefits. Let’s examine them that we might make informed choices. Water-soluble B and C… Continue Reading
One taste of hot tea in a Styrofoam cup and you know you’re drinking more than tea. The cup is reactive. And have you noticed how dried foods stored in plastic bags start to taste like plastic? It’s because food ions react with synthetic or metallic ions. Here are guidelines for choosing—and using—healthful, non-reactive cookware. For a… Continue Reading
All cherries—sweet and sour—are a folk remedy for aches and pain. But recent medical research validates that sour cherries are superior to sweet varieties in their medicinal properties. This resonates with our common sense. Sweeter fruits are higher in carbohydrates and, therefore, lower in micronutrients with pharmaceutically healing properties. Sour cherries provide highly effective pain… Continue Reading
It’s fascinating and informing how some foods warm you up and others cool you down. In a heat-wave, it’s watermelon you want and not a hearty lamb stew. Here’s how to adjust your food choices and cooking styles to assure your thermal ease. This isn’t new information. In early Persian, Indian and Chinese literature, foods were… Continue Reading
Juicing fruits and vegetables extracts their water, sugar and nutrients. The result is an ambrosial nectar that, when fresh, sparkles with vitality. This potent beverage is one to respect and use with care. The dregs include most of the food’s fiber and pulp and some nutrients and flavor, making juice a refined rather than a… Continue Reading
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis and colitis are major problems. Here’s why. Imagine a small scrape or irritation on your forearm. Normally, it mends by itself. However, if further insulted and unattended, it may become inflamed. If the inflammation spreads it may degenerate to a life-threatening situation. The lining of a healthy bowel… Continue Reading
Ginger is famous for its medicinal properties. A warming spice, it stimulates digestion and boosts circulation, respiration and nervous system function. By increasing circulation, it helps effect a systemic cleansing through the skin, bowels and kidneys. Ginger treats colds (see Cold Quell Tea) and fevers and is an effective remedy for motion sickness, nausea from… Continue Reading
Accompanying recipe: Detox Tea Are you ready to end that battle of wanting health but eating a donut? You can do so. You can enjoy greater health and well being. Your first step is to which means taking a break from toxins. From today, to the best of your ability, forego stimulants and chemicals. You’re… Continue Reading
For the sheer fun of it, please join me for a toast. Let’s pull out the pot liquor (or pot likker), chink-chink our glasses and aspire that all beings might be well nourished. Even teetotalers can freely and joyfully imbibe this liquor. It’s the sweet and nutrient dense liquid that remains in the pot after… Continue Reading
This gentle and pleasantly flavored detox tea is excellent in the spring or to support a cleansing diet. Fenugreek supports lymph flow while burdock and red clover are liver tonics. Fennel, ginger, orange peel and licorice treat numerous digestive complaints and the ginger also increases circulation. 1 tablespoon fenugreek seeds 1 tablespoon fennel seeds 1… Continue Reading
How do you know when to start your baby on solids? And, which ones? Fortunately, you can discern by using your common sense and by observing her development. Here’s how to provide your baby with vital and easy to digest foods. It’s miraculous how nurturing your newborn so deeply pierces your heart with love. As… Continue Reading
If you have a goal, like “feeling my best” then it’s easy to pass on food or ingredients that don’t serve you. Without a good goal, however, dietary choices are too often ruled by what’s convenient. Then, typically, you’re frustrated by how you feel and look. I work with people who are ready to set… Continue Reading
Information on www.RebeccaWood.com is intended for educational purposes only and should not be substituted for medical advice from a doctor or healthcare provider. Rebecca Wood is neither a medical doctor nor a dietician. Use of this presentation does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. Note: no single facial indicator (such as wrinkles, discoloration or irregular skin texture) makes a particular diagnosis.
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