All You Need to Know About Bone Broth

HEALING BONE BROTH
Written by guest blogger and Healing Arts Practitioner, Addison Laundry

For thousands of years, traditional foods like fermented vegetables and cultured dairy have been touted for their health benefits- they are dusted among the many fad diets and that come and go, but they are ever-present. One common healing food that is now being recognized for its incredible health benefits is bone broth. Why? Because the benefits of bone broth are immense.

Bone broth is nutrient dense, inexpensive, easy to make, and extremely tasty. Preindustrial societies were incredibly sustainable about their food consumption, and managed to find a use for every whole animal. Bones, ligaments, marrow and tendons that can’t be directly eaten were boiled in water and simmered for many hours, or even days, at a time. This slow simmering process causes the bones and ligaments to release many nutrients, minerals and fats that are transformative in your health.
Bone broth is high in collagen, protein, amino acids, glycerin, calcium, phosphorus, glucosamine, trace minerals and silicon- to name a few. These powerful elements are easily absorbed by the body. Lets see how they actually work.

Drinking bone broth regularly will help the body maintain and promote a healthy gut, reduce inflammation and hydrate the body with the right minerals and vitamins to prosper. Here are 7 reasons why it’s a must to add it to your daily regime.

BOOSTS IMMUNITY- Amino acids in bone broth such as glutamine and arginine host the bodies immunity response.

PROMOTES WEIGHT LOSS- Studies have shown that L-gulatmine reduces a bacteria called Firmicutes found the gut of people who are over-weight. L-gulatime has been proven to aid in weight loss. Also having a cup of bone broth with meals will help with digestion and keep you full for longer.

BUILDS MUSCLE- the amino acids in bone broth help stimulate protein syntheses which are vital in ongoing growth, maintenance, and repair.

AIDS IN EXERCISE- with such high electrolytes (minerals) for peak performance and hydration as the minerals allow for increased oxygen being transported to the muscles, allowing for a better workout.

STRENGTHENS BONES AND TEETH- the body needs constant intake of minerals and vitamins for bone formation to occur. Bone broth provides us with calcium, protein, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin D, potassium, zinc, manganese, copper, boron, iron, vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin C, and the B vitamins. These all help keep our bones and teeth strong and healthy.

IMPROVES MOOD- believe it or not, our guts and brains are connected. The gut is made up of millions of bacteria that directly affect the brain. The makeup of gut bacteria, called microbiome influences how the brain is wired from infancy to adulthood, along with moods, memory, the ability to learn, and how to deal with stress. When the gut microbiome is healthy, it sends happy signals to the brain; when it’s unhealthy, it sends signals of anxiety.

BEAUTY- The gelatin in bone broth is great for stronger nails, hair, anti aging, with sleep. Try it- you'll notice a difference!

Its so cheap and easy to make, especially if you have left overs form a roast. Make a point to ensure the bones you use are organic, as the boiling process will extract both good nutrients and also any toxins which are found in non-organic meat and bones. Here is a great recipe and some more information.

If your time is limited, but you want the health benefits of such an amazing ancient broth, you should check out BRODO. They are located in the east and west villages and specialize in organic bone broth. They are sold in frozen pints sizes of chicken, beef and hearth ( turkey, beef and chicken). They also make extra beneficial bone broth mixes you can order fresh in the store. I love their beef bone broth with garlic, grass fed butter and rosemary oil.

With so many beneficial, transformative properties, it's such an easy and healthy addition to your diet to boost your health. Bring on the bone broth, ladies and gents! Your bodies will love you for it.

Is Your Heart Chakra Balanced?

What even is a chakra and how do I know if my Heart Chakra is imbalanced?
Written by guest blogger & Healing Arts staff, Jaci Pearse.

The literal translation of the word “chakra” is wheel, or disc. On an energetic level, these wheels are swirling centers of energy, tied to massive nerve centers in the body. Each chakras contains bundles of nerves and major organs as well as our psychological, emotional, and spiritual states of being.

The Heart Charka is tied to the lungs and the cardiovascular system, including the heart. You heart is one of the hardest working organs in your body, constantly at service to pump vital blood through your whole body. The lungs are both voluntary and involuntary, which is actually really cool if you think about it, in that we can control their movement, but we can also allow them to function outside of our conscious thought.

On an emotional level, the Heart Chakra is tied to feelings of love, connectedness, and sanction between the earths and the heavens. Its the bridge between the three upper chakras and the three lower chakras, symbolizing the union between the physical and the a-physical.

We could spend days, maybe even weeks, learning about and exploring the chakra system and the implications if has on our physical, spiritual, and emotional health. But for the sake of an introduction, let’s focus on the key points of the Heart Chakra, and what practical things we can do on a daily basis to bring it back into balance.



Ask yourself these questions:

Do I trust others?
Can I make good of any situation?
Do I have close, loving relationships in my life?
Is my cardiovascular system healthy and strong?
Am I prone towards upper respiratory infections or chest colds?

If you answered “no” to any of the above questions, or yes to the last question, chances are your Heart Chakra is imbalanced. Let’s break down four simple practices you can create in your daily life to rebalance the fourth chakra:

1)Take 5 deep breaths: Really deep breaths. And exhale just as completely and fully as you inhale. Count to six as you breath in, pause for one second, then count to six as you exhale on the same tempo. If you’re not able to make it to six, start where you are able. As you breathe, notice your heart beat. Notice the self love you are generating by considering the lungs and their need for and relationship to air.

2) Practice Love: If you are usually the receiver, practice being the giver - of love, of affection, of compassion. And on the reverse, if you are usually the giver, allow yourself to receive. Acknowledge that both giving and receiving can take effort, and that you are worthy of both. Even self-love counts, and it covers both giving and receiving!

3) Open your chest: If you practice yoga, spend a little more time in the heart opening poses like Camel Pose or Fish Pose. Practice you breathe in theses poses for a double hit. If you’re not familiar with yoga, lie down on your back and prop a pillow under the upper back. If its comfortable for your neck, let your head tilt back slightly and your arms splay out to the side. You can even do it in bed!

4) Oils: Rose, Ylang Ylang and Helichrysum are three very powerful oils for the heart chakra. Apply a few drops in your bath water, dilute and spritz in your living space, or even apply directly to your sternum. Slightly to the right of your sternum, just below the collar bone is an acupuncture point called “Spirit Retrieval.” Applying oils to this point has been known to help draw back the severely detached and reclusive spiritual feelings of those effected by an imbalanced Heart Chakra.

Chose one or all four of these exercise and take a few moments throughout your day to practice bringing back balance and harmony to your Heart Chakra. Most importantly, keep going. Keep taking steps daily to balance and enrich the heart chakra, and create a life of connectedness to others and love for self.

Want to learn more about the chakra system? At Healing Arts NYC, chakra therapy as well as applied essential oils are just two of the many services we provide to help spread the Joy of Health. Talk with your practitioner next time you’re in!

Organifi Green Juice

The majority of the time I do a green smoothie (find recipe here) for breakfast. Loaded with super foods, healthy fats, and a healthy protein powder it really helps me get through the day. For the last 4 months or so I have added a scoop of wheat grass to it to make it even more 'green'. Wheat grass is a great source of chlorophyl which cleans the blood. It also helps alkalize the body which tends to be acidic plus a great source of vitamins and minerals. The company I was using was Amazing Grass and their scoop of organic wheat grass powder is 10 times more potent than a tray-grown wheat grass juice shot. I was thoroughly enjoying the boost when I ran across Organifi's Green Juice which not only has the wheat grass but also lots of other herbs and foods to make it that much more! I ordered some to try it out as I do with all sorts of health goodies and I was surprised to find it tasty and give me an even healthier boost!



The wheat grass powder I would never mix with water and drink by itself but with Organifi I easily can because of it's sweetness. It's only 1 gram of sugar but its ingredients has coconut water that makes it sweet along with red beet root. For adrenal support it has ashwagandha in it. For anti-inflammatory help it has turmeric. It also contains horseradish tree, spirulina, chlorella and matcha green tea so something definitely to drink in the morning and not 5pm like I first did when I got home from the day and saw the package and wanted to try it right away! All ingredients are organic and delicious and Dr. Armitstead recommended. If you want to try it, it's in the office for $70 for 30 scoops or read about it more and order here.

Have a Sweet Tooth? Buddha Chocolate is Healing Arts Approved!

I know healthy chocolate is hard to come by. My two favorites so far have been making it myself with honey (recipe) or Hu chocolate which you can find at some Whole Foods and Hu Kitchen on 5th Ave. and 14th St. in Manhattan. Hu chocolate uses coconut sugar as the sweetener and it is delicious! Flavors come in regular, salty, mint, banana, cashew butter, almond butter and puffed quinoa, and hazelnut praline. I was just recently gifted Buddha Chocolate which is another great option I wanted to share! For about the same price you can have chocolate cups and bars of almond butter, coffee, fudge, lavender, s'mores, rose sea salt, mint chip, quinoa crisp, chia cookie, hazelnut and more! I love the artisanal flavors and the chocolate is handmade in Oregon and have made their way into these stores:

Commodities Natural Market
165 1st Ave
(between 10th St & 11th St)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 260-2600

Integral Natural Foods
229 W 13th St
(between 7th Ave & Greenwich Ave)
New York, NY 10011
(212) 243-2642

Westerly Natural Market
913 8th Ave
(between 54th St & 55th St)
New York, NY 10019
(212) 586-0422

Elm Health
56 7th Ave
(between 13th St & 14th St)
New York, NY 10011
(212) 255-6300

The Health Nuts
1208 2nd Ave
(between 63rd St & 64th St)
New York, NY 10065
(212) 593-0116

High Vibe
138 E 3rd St
(between 1st Ave & Avenue A)
New York, NY 10009
(212) 777-6645

Organic Planet Williamsburg
169 Bedford Ave
(between 8th St & 7th St)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 388-8320

Organic Planet Morgan Ave
43 Bogart St
(between Grattan St & Moore St)
Brooklyn, NY 11206

Organic Planet Pharmacy Driggs Ave
205 N 9th St
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(347) 799-2213

Perelandra Natural
175 Remsen St
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 855-6068

You can also order them online and try a variety pack. Also made with coconut sugar they are delicious!

Fight the Flu with Elderberry Syrup

Like it or not, cold and flu season is here! We should all be thinking about how to keep our immune system strong so it’s ready to combat these viruses. One of my favorite remedies to help boost my immune system to prevent these nasty viruses from taking a hold is Elderberry syrup. Loaded with antioxidants, vitamin C and immune supporting minerals, Elderberries have been used for centuries in Europe, North American, North Africa, and Western Asia, and people are catching on to its medicinal benefits. The bioflavonoids in the juice weaken the ability of cold and flu viruses to infect a cell. It enhances the body’s immune system, and can be used not only for colds and the flu, but to lower cholesterol, improve vision and heart health.




Raw or unripe elderberries contain a toxic chemical called cyanogenic glycoside. Once you cook the elderberries, the chemical is not a problem, so if you do decide to buy them to make your own syrup, don’t try them raw! Otherwise, you can find this already made in a syrup, or in capsules. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you shouldn’t take this. Otherwise, if you feel that cold coming on, you may be able to thwart it with this amazing berry! To make your own elderberry syrup, click here.

All You Need to Know About Water

By Addison Landry

-Our bodies are made up of 70% water and for good quality health good quality water is needed. 

- A common misconception. Some people are under the impression that they can remove toxins from water by boiling it. Boiling water kills harmful organisms but does nothing to remove toxic chemicals, compounds, salts, and metals.

What toxins can be found in water and how they harm the body:

Unfortunately, water quality issues are not a recent development. Industrial dumping, pesticide runoff, leaky storage tanks, and government mandates have created big problems. Let’s take a look at some of the nastiest water contaminants that may be pouring out of your tap.



1. Fluoride

Adding fluoride to drinking water is a process that began back in the 1940’s to help reduce tooth decay. However fluoride is a neurotoxin and an endocrine disruptor. It can harm the thyroid gland and calcify the pineal gland. It’s so toxic that several countries have banned water fluoridation.



2. Chlorine

Chlorine has disinfectant properties that make it useful for cleaning products and swimming pools. It’s even used to sanitize sewage and industrial waste. Chlorine is added to drinking water as a purification technique, despite not being safe.

Chlorine is a reactive chemical that bonds with water, including the water in your gut, to produce poisonous hydrochloric acid in gas form. Chlorine exposure can cause respiratory problems and damage cells . Long term effects include memory loss and impaired balance.



3. Lead

Corroded pipes are releasing up to ten times the allowable amount of lead into the water. Lead is toxic to almost every organ  and affects children the worst. Developmental issues, stunted growth, deafness, behavioral problems, learning disabilities, and brain damage can all result from exposure to lead. If ingested during pregnancy, lead can cause premature birth. Lead exposure has even been linked to autism, prostate cancer, and reproductive problems for both men and women. It’s damaging to the cardiovascular system and kidneys, too.



4. Mercury

Although mercury is a naturally occurring element, “natural” does not mean “safe. Mercury is extremely toxic  and can cause brain damage, blindness, nerve damage, cognitive disability, impairment of motor functions, headaches, weakness, muscle atrophy, tremors, mood swings, memory loss, and skin rashes.



5. PCBs

PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are chemicals used for industrial purposes such as insulation, machinery, oil, paints, adhesives, electronics, and fluorescent lights.

Although PCBs were banned in 1979, they’re still present in landfills and pose a danger to the environment. PCBs break down slowly and infiltrate the environment. They have been found in snow and sea water thousands of miles from where they were produced.



6. Arsenic

Arsenic, despite being poisonous, is used in a multitude of industrial processes. Environmental contamination may result from improper waste disposal, or from poorly-planned wells that hit a natural source.

Arsenic poisoning can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea.



7. Dioxins

Dioxins are released during combustion, such as burning of hazardous waste, forest fires, cigarette smoke, and burning oil and coal. They settle in the environment and destroy water sources.

Short term exposure can cause lesions and respiratory problems. Long-term exposure can affect the immune, nervous, endocrine, and reproductive systems. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has declared dioxins are carcinogenic. In developing fetuses, dioxin poisoning can cause birth defects or stillbirth.



8. DDT

DDT was used as an insecticide in the 1940s to combat insect-borne diseases like malaria and typhus. It had widespread use as an agricultural insecticide until it was banned in the United States in 1972 due to environmental concerns.

It remains in use in other parts of the world and is still a major health concern for all of us. DDT molecules are persistent and can travel vast distances in the atmosphere.

Animal testing has found DDT causes reproductive problems and liver damage. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has declared DDT is a cancer risk.



9. Dactyl (Herbicide) 

Dacthal (dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate, or DCPA) is an herbicide that contaminates soil and water sources. Unlike HBA and DDT, Dacthal is still in use today. Animal tests have found dacthal damages the adrenal glands, kidneys, liver, thyroid, and spleen.



Why water filtration is important: 

With all these toxins contaminating our water its extremely important to remove them for good quality health. When you drink these toxins it depletes the bodies minerals to help balance the body form the toxins. This depletion of minerals creates a nutritional deficiency as the body has lost the minerals needed to perform at a healthy functional level. With depleted minerals then follows organ dysfunction. Organ dysfunction can cause cause anything skin rashes, digestions issues, acne, lowered sex drive, changes in mood, auto immune challenges, joint pain to name a very small amount. The body is is an interconnected machine so one organ dysfunction can lead to many others. So you can see how important it is to remove toxins form you life style especially water.  



Best Filtration systems:

Zero water filters - Are a great cost effective filter option that removes total dissolved solids most specifically lead. Total dissolved solids being any chemical, metal or  toxin that will dissolve in water which includes fluoride, chlorine, lean, mercury, herbicides and pesticides to name a few. It comes with a TDS meter which allows you to test your water to see the level of total dissolved solids giving you level in which you should change the filter. They are sold on amazon, target, bed bath and beyond and come in different sizes. 



Additional ways to improve water quality:

Ozone-  In the office we recommend a machine that adds extra oxygen to your water called the Ozo-pod. The ozone process is adding a three extra oxygen molecules to the 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen molecule (2:1).Because ozone is unstable, the newly formed bond is only temporary and must be used or preserved no more than 20 minutes after creation to be most effective. 

Ozonated water in a number of scientific studies has shown to remove bacteria, viruses and eliminate impurities. When you drink ozonated water it increase energy,  and blood detoxification. Increased oxygen in the brain heightens its function. Single oxygen cells introduced into the immune system makes it stronger and better able to fight infections. Drinking cold ozone water on an empty stomach every day can detoxify your intestinal tract. For most people we suggest 16 ounces a day.  



Water on the go:

The best options for water would be glass and stainless steal. Plastic is a toxin that we test for in the office any form of plastic even if BPA free actually acts as estrogen in the body playing off our hormones and causing imbalance. If this toxin shows up in patients we ask them to stay away form all plastic where possible and help them detox through diet changes and whole food supplements. To start improving your health I would give this recommendation to everyone. The less toxins the better. 

It is hard to stay away from plastic when traveling, Voss water and Mountain Valley water have the option of water in glass bottles if it's available. If there is no glass options I would recommend Evian, Volvic or Mountain Valley water in the plastic bottles.

Water bottles to check out:
I personally use the Flaska bottle and love it!

glass: 

Flaska water bottle with cover 

Life Factory- silicon sleeve for grip and protection 



Stainless steel:

Klean kanteen 

S’well

Try Bee's Wrap Instead of Plastic Wrap

Considering how anti-plastic I am (read the blog) I can't believe it took me this long to find Bee's Wrap®!  It is kind of like wax paper but can really seal when putting over a dish and is reusable for about a year.  

I would suggest buying the assorted pack contains 3 sizes of wraps (Small 7" x 8", Medium 10" x 11", and Large 13" x 14") for $18. It is not just beeswax but also made with certified organic cotton, organic jojoba oil and tree resin.  It is amazing how reusable it is. Wash it before you use it and after every use with cool water and soap and air dry. Each wrap will last about a year with use a few times per week. Wrap cheese, half of a lemon, a sandwich (gluten-free), or cover a bowl. When wrapping this product around food or over a bowl, the warmth of your hands helps the wrap to form a seal. As the wrap cools, the seal will hold its shape.



The only warning it comes with is from the company: beeswax has a natural fragrance that can vary depending on the time of year that it is harvested. Since beeswax is the primary ingredient in this product, each piece will exude that fragrant scent. If the scent if too strong for you, we recommend you wash it a few times before the first use, which may dilute the fragrance. Additionally, during your first use, cover a container that does not allow the scent to directly touch the food. If wrapping food directly such as bread or cheese, use a cloth directly on the food and then Bee's Wrap™. Over time the scent will fade. 

I personally don't mind the scent at all.  Try it out and let me know what you think!