Relax with Pumpkin Spice

Fall Back, and Relax

The season is changing yet again, and the colors of autumn are in bloom. It is a favorite time of year for a lot of people, and a great time to get past the hectic schedules of summer and relax. This fall, the goal is to take some stress away from everyone, help our bodies recover, and be as healthy as possible before the dreaded snow flies. As we continue the theme of stress and health, I have talked with almost everyone in our office about stress management. The simple fact is that everyone has stress that affects their health, and the healthier we are, the better we handle that stress. All health issues are a result of the accumulation of stressors on the body; so, limiting those stressors would be ideal, but most of them revolve around our daily lives, so the best thing to do is support yourself properly. We have great supplements to support your body to handle stress better.

When we are stressed however, our health suffers. The first thing to happen throughout the body is that inflammation increases. Inflammation is a protective mechanism the body uses to “cushion” vulnerable areas like organs and joints. The main issue with inflammation is that it is uncomfortable, painful, and interferes with proper function. Our job at OHZ is to restore the function, reduce the pain and inflammation, and get you back to living your life in your sweet spot.

In keeping with the fall theme, we want to talk about the benefits of one of seemingly everyone’s favorite things this time of year: pumpkin spice. Pumpkin spice pops up in every facet of food and drink this time of year, and ironically there are some great health benefits! Obviously ordering a $12 sugar-loaded drink from the coffee shop isn’t beneficial (you should be drinking Organo coffee anyway), but the basis of homemade pumpkin spice is only 4 ingredients. A simple recipe for pumpkin spice is a combination of Cinnamon, Ginger, Cloves, and Nutmeg (in a ratio of 8:4:2:1).

Cinnamon is loaded with antioxidants, is a great anti-inflammatory, and has powerful benefits for your heart and blood sugar balance. Ginger is great to help soothe stomach aches, is also an anti-inflammatory that helps with muscle pain and arthritis, can reduce issues related to menstrual irregularity, yeast infections, and high cholesterol. It is also protective against oxidative stress issues that lead to cancer and Alzheimer’s! Cloves fall into the same categories: antioxidant, anti-microbial, and help protect against cancer, blood sugar issues, bone loss, and stomach ulcers. And lastly, nutmeg is a very powerful spice that helps with all sorts of issues: it is a powerful pain-reliever, helps indigestion, insomnia, skin issues, circulation, brain regulation, and even combats bad breath.

So, as you are enjoying the beauty of the fall season and indulging on some pumpkin spiced foods and drinks, know that you are helping your inflammation, stress, and overall well-being.

Yours in Health,

Dr. J.