Are You Ready to Thrive?

Many people drink coffee to get their mornings started. Some people continue drinking coffee throughout the day. My question to you, if you're a coffee drinker, is - do you just like coffee? or do you NEED coffee? If you just like coffee and you're not reliant upon it to get through your day, all the more power to ya! Coffee is full of antioxidants which are anti-cancer nutrients. However, if you're finding that you need that next cup of coffee because your brain is foggy and your body is sluggish, let's have a talk.

Coffee contains caffeine which is a stimulant. It makes you feel alert and able to respond to any challenges that may come your way. This sounds like a great bodily reaction, right? In a short-term sort of way, sure. The trouble begins when we start using caffeine as a replacement for our own natural energy. As we consume more caffeine, our bodies learn that they don't need to create our own energy, that it will be supplied from an outside source (coffee, tea, soda, etc.). So what happens when we're then separated from our precious caffeine source? Our bodies no longer know how to make appropriate levels of energy to get us through our day.

So what can you do to help your body re-learn how to be energetic on its own?

• First off, reduce the amount of caffeine that you consume, or stop drinking it altogether. I know this can be tough, but just take it slow. I usually recommend 0-2 cups of coffee or tea a day. (Yes, I recommend that people discontinue soda consumption altogether because there is NO healthful benefit to soda, unlike coffee and tea which at least contain antioxidants. If you absolutely can not live without a sweet, fizzy drink, consider Juice Squeezes or Izzes. They are carbonated fruit juices that are DELECTABLE!)

• Replace the caffeine that you normally would have consumed with water. Caffeine is very dehydrating, which can make it so your energy is unable to flow properly. If your energy can't get quickly to where it should be going, you'll get that sluggish feeling that we all know so well.

• Consider getting acupuncture to help your body re-learn to produce energy more quickly. You'll be feeling more energetic, so you won't NEED the caffeine so much. Acupuncture can also help mitigate any withdrawal symptoms you may experience.

Coffee is a lovely drink, but like everything, must be used in moderation. It's best to feel great on your own and to be able to have coffee as a treat that you enjoy, rather than a necessary crutch to get through your day.

If you're ready to live without the hindrances of smoking (shortness of breath, incessant coughing, the dependence on a substance to make it through your day), give acupuncture and Chinese medicine a try. It won't do the quitting for you, but it can help ease you through the transition to living and breathing freely.

Your acupuncturist will likely use a special set of points called the 5 Needle Protocol (5NP, for short). The protocol consists of 5 needles placed in each ear on points to treat the Liver, Lung, Kidney, Sympathetic Nervous System, and a special point called Shen Men which translates to "Spirit Gate."

These points have been used with great success in many patients who are addicted to a wide variety of substances. Many state programs to help people get off drugs use these points! 5NP will help calm the nervous system as well as build up the energy of organs that have been damaged by the addiction. So not only do you get relief from your withdrawal symptoms and cravings, you will start feeling better from deep inside and you'll have more energy which will lessen your need for the nicotine. It's like a two-for-one deal!

So when you're ready to start living your life under your own terms, talk to your acupuncturist. Though you do have to make the decision to quit smoking on your own, you're certainly not in it alone!

For more Living and Breathing freely tips, feel free to download this list of ideas to help you through!