Author: Riley Smith

Despite being nearly 5000 years old, and having been extensively researched across the world, there are still no conclusive answers about exactly how acupuncture works. However, there are a number of widely accepted scientific theories which can begin to shed some light on the mechanisms behind its functionality. The traditional, eastern theory behind how acupuncture […]

The Organs and the Emotions in Traditional Chinese Medicine Chinese medicine views the body as two halves of a whole. Mental and physical health are completely dependent on each other and emotional imbalances can easily manifest physically. The appropriate expression of emotions is both natural and healthy. For example, if somebody screws you over, you’re going […]

By Guest Blogger: Adam Meyer There is a lot of buzz these days about “mindfulness,” but what does that really mean? On one hand, mindfulness is a particular type of meditation, on another hand, mindfulness is a particular state of awareness. As it turns out, the goal of mindfulness meditation is to experience and prolong […]

Ful Medames This take on the classic Egyptian meal (usually eaten for breakfast) of highly seasoned fava beans and other sorts of other deliciousness uses easy-to-find shelled, frozen edamame.  It smells amazing while its cooking and is even better the next day! If you know me, you know that I don’t go crazy for soy. […]

Question: When did being “exhausted” become a status symbol?  In our culture, working long hours is a sign of success and saying “busy” when asked how you’re doing is glorified, when in reality, it should be anything but. Life isn’t meant to be lived from the confines of your cubicle, and skipping lunch because there’s […]

Happy hydration! Lots of noise about these “plant waters” that are exploding all across the place. Remember the Whole Foods PR fiasco about the $7 asparagus water? Well, whats the deal? Is it really worth it?? More often than not, no. Stick with water and for extremely demanding workouts or endurance athletes consider professional grade […]

2 of my major loves in life are my slow cooker and meal prep. Throw a new pork roast recipe and I’m positively swooning. If you haven’t checked out Plaid and Paleo, Vanessa is incredibly talented and has a wealth of delicious recipes. As usual, I doubled this baby to get the most food out […]

I love this recipe for  reasons (aside from a slight blueberry obsession!) Its a total make-ahead (and you know how much I love that!) Protein packed almond flour has 5g protein per serving Its also a complex carb which burns slower for longer energy in the morning Perfect grab and go INGREDIENTS 2-1/2 cups almond […]

Wait, what in the hell is “Ming Men”?  Good question.  Ming Men or “Gate of Life” is thought to be located between the two kidneys and is closely related to Jing, which was described in this previous post.  Ming Men is responsible for the “fire” that fuels our bodily functions.  An easy way to think […]