I love getting compliments on my skin. It makes me so proud. Because I know how long it has taken me to have clear skin- over 20 years. Yes. I am 36. And my skin started breaking out when I was 14. I tried thousands of dollars worth of products to treat my skin. And nothing worked. Until I changed my diet.

I learned:

Our skin is our biggest organ of our body. It detoxes everything we put in it and on it. If the foods you are eating are creating inflammation, your body will use your skin as an outlet. Creating rashes, hives, eczema, psoriasis, and acne.

When I changed my diet when I was 20.  I first started with cutting out sugar and processed foods. Then over the years I shifted my diet away from the inflammatory foods. For me that is gluten, dairy and spicy foods. Now I know changing your diet can seem challenging at first.

Focus on the results- clear skin, healthier body, more energy.  You look good hence you feel good.

Common inflammatory foods/ drinks are: caffeine, alcohol, sugar, peanuts, nightshades- tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and eggplant, as well as eggs, soy.

You may not have reaction to all of the mentioned foods. To figure that out which ones, you would need to do an elimination diet. And you want more information on that. Please leave a comment below and I’ll be in contact.

Foods you can include in your diet are ones that have high in antioxidants.

• Wild blueberries.- all berries. strawberries, blackberries, raspberries
• Pineapples
• Oats
• Spinach
• Ginger
• Turmeric
• Beets

These are all high in antioxidants. But guess what all plant based foods- fruits, vegetables, beans, grains, nuts, seeds are filled with them.

Externally, you should avoid products that contain any chemicals or toxins. Move towards products that are natural- and you can read every ingredient. The less ingredients the better.

My products now are very simple and are all plant-based. Everything I put on my skin is edible. It would taste gross, but it can be eaten.

Simplicity is key.

As a plant based person aka vegan, the one number question I get asked is: Where do you get your protein?

98% of people are getting more than enough protein in their diets. Even the vegans and vegetarians are fulfilling the daily requirement of 42 grams of protein daily for women and 56 grams for men. There is plenty of protein in vegetables, grains, nuts and beans. However, whatever your diet is it is important to create a balanced one.

The real question should be: Are you getting a variety of foods in your diet? In our developed nation it is nearly impossible to become protein deficient. We run into problems in not consuming enough nutrients from a lack of  variety in our diet.

Amino Acids are the building blocks of protein, there are twenty. Nine of which are essential and are needed to maintain a healthy body. They have to come from our food. And you can get all the essential amino acids from plant based sources.

Each amino acid has a specific purpose. For example Leucine is best for stimulating muscle strength and growth. If you are an active person, you should consume more cashews, almonds, hemp seeds, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds.

Most of us have been conditioned to believe that veggie proteins are limited. They are not. Plant based protein sources are vast and abundant.

Have questions on how to incorporate more plant based foods in your diet? Or about your health?

Schedule your 15 min free consultation or email me at info@carinecamara.com.

Big Love,

Carine

Download the full list of the essential amino acids and their best plant based food sources

Winter, the time of the kidneys. Words that describe this time of year are contraction, receptive, introspective, rest, hibernate, and darkness.

In Chinese Medicine, this time of year is associated with the Kidney energy system. Quite different from Western Medicine. The Kidneys are our enery center including the sexual organs and reproductive functions.

This is the best time of year to consume foods to support your kidneys. They are the root of life- they govern birth, growth and development. If you kidneys are weak, they cannot support your digestive organs, and if your digestive organs are weak they cannot support your kidneys. Thus, it’s vital to have both organ systems functioning at their optimal.

Breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day. It’s a great time to nourish your kidneys.

Porridge is one of the best foundations to build your breakfast. It is warm, and easy to digest.

Most people think of oatmeal. Though it may only be a good option for some. Since oats are very moistening to the lungs, they are good if you are suffering from dry lungs, chronic cough or a sore throat. If not, oats tend to be damp forming especially if you consume a lot of meat and dairy.

In Chinese Medicine this type of porridge is called, congee. The best grains to use are white rice, barley, brown rice, or quinoa.

You cook 1 cup of white rice (or another grain) with 5-8 cups of water. In many recipes you can add Chinese herbs as well as various types of food. Mine recipes are with fruit, nuts, seeds, and herbs. If time is an issue, you can throw the rice in a rice cooker or crock pot and have it cook overnight. And your breakfast will be waiting for you in the morning. For my congee recipes enter your info below to download.

Want more information on how you can support your kidneys email me at: info@carinecamara.com or write in the comments below. 

Big Love and Hugs,

Carine

Download your congee recipes

Initial stages of a cold, Build your Jing, and Strengthen your Digestion.

Ingesting sugar lowers your immune system. In 1973 a Loma Linda University study showed that eating 100 grams of sugar results in your white blood cells losing 40% of their ability to fight bacterias or virus. This affect lasts 5 hours.

100 grams feels a bit abstract. Right?

Here is some perspective:

• Pies 18- 20 grams
• Wines can start at 1 gram to Cocktails 24 grams (like mojitos)
• Chocolate Cake with frosting- 55 grams
• Bag of Skittles- 47 grams

According to Sugar Science the average American eats about 82 grams of sugar a day (www.sugarscience.org). And with the holidays you can see how that would be easy blow past 100 grams.

Eating less sugar does not guarantee that you wouldn’t ever get sick, however, it does lower your chances significantly.

I’m not saying don’t enjoy the holidays and all their sweet treats. Just be conscious about it, perhaps avoid eating large amounts of sugar at the workplace. Most of my clients express getting sick from either their co-workers or their children.

It is nearly impossible to avoid sick people during the flu season. However, I have never caught the flu from anyone and I am a health care provider I am around sick people all the time!

My secret: I don’t eat processed sugar. As you have already guessed. I also ingest large amount of antioxidants in the form of plant based whole foods.

And my favorite thing is Black Elderberry Syrup (with no sugar added). I like the brand Herb-Pharm Alcohol-free tincture to boost up my immune system. Other reason why I love it so much is that it’s sweet. I am a recovering sugar addict. So I find healthy ways to include sweet things in my diet. And this is a two for one deal.

Stay healthy!

Much Love,

Carine

Want more information on immune boosting sweet treats?

Join the tribe. And receive a PDF today.  

We all have judgements about everything. Speaking as someone that has been working on my own judgements about life for years. I recently started looking at my judgement around food. Is food good, bad or neutral? What are your food judgements based on?

Food is neither good or bad. It’s neutral. How your body feels is what matters most. Your body will give you signs that will help you understand what feels good and what doesn’t.

Food is our life force. We think about it all day. What are we going to eat? With whom? We plan events and dates around food. It is an important part of our lives. And it can be the source of so much suffering and anxiety.

So what, I am an acupuncturist and have years of training and experience. Yes, I have a lot of knowledge and resources, however, you know your body more than I do. You live with it. And if you don’t understand how to read and interpret the messages your body is showing you, that is where I come in.

This is where my expertise lays: guiding you to a place where you can understand what nutrition your body needs.

No Diet. No judgement. You learn what foods feel good in your body.

I don’t know about you. But I LOVE food. I love cooking it, eating it and sharing it. I use it medically and recreationally.

And I love having FREEDOM. Releasing my judgements about my food has given me a certain level of freedom. I choose to eat healthy and mostly plant-based foods because that is what feels good in my body. And I am happy about my decision. And your diet will look completely different, because that is what your body needs.

I invite you to think about your judgements around food and your diet. And see where you can be more compassionate, loving and nourishing towards yourself.

“Be less of a judge and you will be surprised that when you become a witness and you don’t judge yourself, you stop judging others too. And that makes you more human, more compassionate, more understanding.” —OSHO

Curious, on ways to deepen your understanding about your diet. Email me at info@carinecamara.com or call 925 310 5317.

Bon Appetite.

Much Love,

Carine

I have suffered from facial acne since I was 14 years old. I have used various products, topical creams prescribed from my dermatologists, and got facials from estheticians.  But they never got to the root of the problem. At its worse during my teenage years, I asked these skin experts could it be my diet. The overwhelming response was no.

As a teenager and into my twenties my acne was a major source of pain and insecurity. I never really saw myself as beautiful because every time I looked in a mirror all I saw were my whiteheads, blackheads and blemishes. I was desperate to figure out a way to heal my skin. And now I consider it a blessing because it forced me to look within. Beauty shines from your heart not your face.

Along with acne, I suffered from chronic digestive issues with constant bloating. I know when my digestive system feels good, my skin looks good.

For me, I started with removing sugar and processed foods. This helped. Then for most of my twenties, I did no dairy and no gluten. This made a huge difference, and I thought that my skin would really start to heal. I went to estheticians, try new natural products and took some supplements. Sigh, I still had breakouts.

By the time I reached my thirties I was pretty frustrated. Being a holistic health care provider and an acupuncturist, I felt like I should be able to figure this out. With the help of a fellow acupuncturist,  I realized that for me the inflammation was due to nightshades. This food group potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers were the cause of my bloating. Since eliminating these foods my digestion and my skin have improved. Food sensitives change as we do. Now small amounts of dairy and wheat are okay. However, I closely monitor my skin and its reaction to my diet.

Presently my skin still has a bit of more healing to do. But this is the best it has EVER been.

I have a simple skin routine I use natural products that are made for sensitive skin.

Internally I saw the biggest shift when I started increasing the amounts of antioxidants I consume. Eating large amounts of fruits and veggies. My skin has never looked so good!!!  And drinking lots of alkaline water is always important.

I write this all to say: if you suffering from acne, there are ways to heal it!!! This was my journey and yours may look different; however, the one constant is DIET.

Want to learn about your body and the best foods for you to avoid and consume for your skin? Schedule a free 15 min health consultation, email at info@carinecamara.com or call 925 310 5317.

Much Love,

Carine

If I had a cold, Mama would make me a bowl of soup filled with ginger, garlic, and hot peppers. It would scorch my mouth and throat, but by the morning I was fine. I was hardly sick as a child, and I never had the flu growing up.

My mother took me a Chinese Herbalist in the heart of Chinatown in New York City for my menstrual cramps when was 14. The scent and the herbs fascinated me. This older Chinese man silently felt my pulse, looked at my tongue and gave me a bag of herbs. I had dual thoughts of that experience being very odd and very cool as a young teenager.

I feel blessed to have a mother that introduced me to the world of holistic healing that has shaped my life. When I was a child I wanted to be a medicine woman, and I became one: an African- American urban medicine woman. By the time I was 20, I made the decision to live a completely holistic natural lifestyle.

What did that look like?

I cut off my chemically relaxed hair. I went natural. I became a vegetarian. I started reading all the labels of everything I was putting in and on my body. All my body products, makeup, household detergents became natural and non-toxic. I became obsessed with nutrition and health.

By the time I decided to go get my Master’s in Chinese Medicine when I was 25, my family was not the least bit surprised. Holistic medicine is who I am.

My holistic world is filled with plant-based foods, yoga, herbs, essential oils, acupuncture, massage, energy work, spirituality, mindfulness, astrology, and crystals.  It comes natural to me. It is so ingrained in who I am.

And yet, I have fallen in love with the facial expressions of people, when I say I am an acupuncturist. Eyes widen and they exclaim words of awe, wonder, and curiosity. The conversation swiftly moves into the art of acupuncture and the wonderful ways it can transform their lives! Education is key. I love teaching people about how they can empower their health.

I write this to say, it is important to be yourself no matter what happens in life.

Stay true to your heart.  

“Be the change you want to see in the world” – Mohandas Gandhi 

Much Love,

Carine

The heat of the summer months tends to dry out our skin. Top priority is to stay hydrated, by drinking a lot of water and eating hydrating foods.

Here are some Chinese Medicine Tips:

Summer is a time of expansion, growth, activity, creativity, connection. Being outside, travel, play are all summertime joys. This is also the time of year when the fruits and vegetable are plentiful and colorful. Take advantage of this abundant time of year to enjoy food and the people in your life. It is best to eat raw fruits and vegetables, or lightly cook your foods by steaming. Cooking with more water than oils will produce lighter meals.

True radiant skin, stems from the root of your internal organs. They keep your skin glowing.

Of course, acupuncture sessions will bring more blood and healing to your skin. As well stimulate collagen production, helping to keep your skin tight. Acupuncture treats your whole body to address the root cause of your health condition.

For a pdf of the foods that specifically nourish your Lungs and Large Intestine.

Email me at: info@carinecamara.com

With Love,

Carine

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