Health and Nutrition with Nature's Sunshine: Specials to Kick Start Your New Year! From HC Wellness Center & Spa

New Year

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XYLITOL

Sweeten foods and beverages with Xylitol low calorie sweetner. This natural sugar substitute has a glycemic index of 7, so it's great for reducing carbs and calories. And it tastes great!

New Years Delights

Triple Berry Spinach Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 cup(s) orange juice
1 cup(s) frozen blueberries
1/2 cup(s) frozen strawberries
1/2 cup(s) frozen raspberries
1 1/2 cup(s) loosely packed spinach
Honey or agave syrup, if necessary

Directions

Add the orange juice, fruit, and spinach to a blender. Blend on medium-high speed until the all the spinach is blended and there are no visible green specks.
Add up to 2 tablespoons of agave syrup if necessary to sweeten.

Add additional ice cubes for an icier drink.

Spinach-Potato Tacos

INGREDIENTS:

2 large yukon gold potatoes, cut and diced

1 (10-ounce) package frozen spinach, thawed

1 large onion, diced

1 medium poblano pepper, seeded and diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 cup unsweetened, unflavored plant milk

3 tablespoons nutritional yeast

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

12 corn tortillas

½ cup chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions:

1. Place the potatoes in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, until the potatoes are tender, about 10 to 12 min. Drain well and set aside.

2. Meanwhile, lay a clean kitchen towel or several layers of paper towel on the counter and place the thawed spinach at the bottom of one short end. Roll up the spinach in the towel and, holding it over the sink, twist either end of the roll to squeeze out as much liquid from the spinach as you can. Unroll and set aside.

3. In a large skillet, cook the onion and poblano pepper over medium heat, stirring occasionally and adding water 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time as needed to keep the vegetables from sticking, until softened, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cumin and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

4. Add the spinach and potatoes along with the plant milk and nutritional yeast. Season to taste with salt and pepper and cook until heated through, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.

5. Meanwhile, heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add as many corn tortillas to the pan as will fit in a single layer and heat for a few minutes to warm the tortillas through. Remove them from the pan and set them aside, covered with a clean kitchen towel to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.

6. To serve divide the potato mixture by spooning it onto the center of each. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.

Now Featured in

Unveiled! Magazine

ISSUE NO. 12 / JANUARY 2015

We want to help you kick off your New Years Goals!!!

3 Winners Chosen - 3 Stories of Transformation

It's as easy as 1. 2. 3...

1. Like Us on Facebook

2. Post your New Years Resolution (on our Facebook page) and include how HC Wellness can help you.

3. Collect Your Cool Prize!

3 Winners will be chosen to receive a "KickStart Kit" to help them achieve their goals. Additionally, they will receive a gift certificate to use towards any service.

Contest entry only goes till February 06, 2015....so ENTER TODAY!!!

We accept FSA, Spa Finder and all major credit cards(except American Express).

Now featured in Unveiled Magazine.

A BETTER BEAUTIFUL YOU.

New Year's Resolutions worth sticking to....

Year after year, you resolve to exercise more. Conquer clutter. Save money. Quit spamming your favorite celebrity's Twitter account. (No, just us?) And while these aren't bad resolutions, there's an even better one you could be making: Self-indulge.

Or at least that's what a recent study in the December issue of Integrative Medicine, A Clinician's Journal suggests. Turns out trips to the spa can significantly enhance your physical and mental health. In fact, study participants who spent a week meditating, taking yoga classes, and partaking in a stress management programs experienced an average weight loss of 6.8 pounds, a 7.7% decrease in diastolic blood pressure, and a 5.2% decline in cholesterol levels.

The finding comes on the heels of an earlier study from Emory University, which found that indulging in massage therapy once or twice a week can lower levels of stress hormones, including cortisol. Massage can also increase white blood cell counts, which play a key role in fending off illness and infection, and can improve sleep quality, reduce migraines, and curb lower back pain.

Massage Therapy. 20 Mind-Body Solutions That Actually Work

"Anyone who enjoys massage should consider indulging regularly," says Mark Hyman Rapaport, MD, chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine. "Of course, a single session will do great things for the body, but regular sessions seem to be even more profound."

You can supplement with a self-massage as well, which is a quick alternative that still relieves stress and enhances your health, says Maureen Moon, a massage therapist and former president of the American Massage Therapy Association. Follow her tips for the best do-it-yourself rubdown:

- Focus on your face. Relieve tension and muscle strain caused by stress, fatigue, or staring at a computer screen by working on your face, says Moon. Firmly run your fingers up and down your forehead and then along each eyebrow before applying gentle pressure to eyelids and around the temples.

- Oil your feet. Using peppermint or eucalyptus oils, briskly rub the tops of your bare feet several times. From there, rub and rotate each toe and use fingers to firmly draw diagonal lines along the soles of each foot.

- Give yourself a hand. Aside from being easy to do on-the-go, a hand massage also relieves tension throughout the body. Tug and rotate each finger, says Moon, and then use fingers or knuckles to draw circles on the inside of your hand.

Get Moving. Incorporate activities into your day that keep you in motion. Strive for 30 minutes of activity each day. You can take a walk, ride your bike, or even join in a game of softball in the backyard with the family. Take the stairs and avoid the elevator. Park in that one space at work no one else wants-the one farthest from the front door. Mix it up and keep it fun! You'll feel great doing it and it won't be long before you notice the results.

Tweak your diet. Make small, yet meaningful changes to your diet. Reduce sodium intake by opting for low or no-sodium foods. Sodium contributes to high blood pressure and causes that familiar, uncomfortable bloating we have all experienced. You may also want to add antioxidants to your diet to help fight cancer, inflammation and heart disease. Potatoes, beans, cherries, apples, plums, and even chocolate contain antioxidants. Yum!

Toss out the white bread and pasta and switch to whole grain breads, pasta, rice and cereals. Along with assisting with weight management, whole grains help reduce the risk of stroke, type 2 diabetes, colorectal cancer, and high blood pressure as well as other health issues.

And, of course, increase your intake of fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables provide us with all those necessary vitamins and minerals our bodies need to function and look their best.

ALWAYS wear sunscreen. Over time, the sun's harmful rays cause wrinkles, blotchiness, brown spots, and yes, skin cancer. Do yourself a favor and commit to wearing sunscreen every time you step outdoors (yes, even during the winter and on rainy/cloudy days). Your soft, supple, blemish-free skin will thank you!

Reserve some ME time. We are constantly on the go with work and family. Our lives are so busy. It's easy to become overwhelmed and exhausted. Your most important New Year's Resolution must be to take care of yourself. Go ahead and reserve some time to relax and unwind at the spa. Commit to treating yourself the way you deserve to be treated.

You don't have to dread making New Year's Resolutions in 2015. Commit to these sensible, realistic resolutions and enjoy a safe, healthy, prosperous New Year!

Everything you need to help you reach & maintain your goals!

Rev up your metabolism with Ultra Therm CF (caffeine-free). This thermogenic formula helps break down fat while increasing calorie burn.

(15% Off; in-store or online)

BENEFITS

Increases calorie burn throughout the day*
Helps break down body fat*
Promotes weight loss*
Caffeine-free

Or Try Ultra Therm

with Plant source pure natural caffeine.

Benefits:

Increases calorie burn throughout the day*
Helps break down body fat*
Promotes weight loss*

How It Works:

Rev Up your metabolism. Featuring a powerful combination of green coffee bean extract, green tea and a sustained-release energy blend, this thermogenic formula increases calorie burn while helping your body break down fat. Boost your metabolism and start achieving your weight management goals with Ultra Therm today.*

Ingredients:

Green coffee bean extract—chlorogenic acid (CGA), thought to be the active ingredient in safe, caffeine-free green coffee bean extract (Coffea canephora), may help block sugar absorption, promoting satiety and healthy blood sugar levels already in the normal range. In initial studies, taking green coffee bean extract has resulted in weight loss, much of it fat, in overweight individuals.*

Green tea leaf extract—drinking polyphenol-rich green tea (Camellia sinensis)has been linked to good health for centuries. Beyond already documented benefits for cardiovascular health, brain health and healthy aging, the extract's active components—including polyphenols such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)—now show promise for weight loss. Researchers believe green tea may have a thermogenic (calorie- and fat-burning) effect, and also may inhibit fat absorption.*

Sustained-release energy blend—this blend of ingredients, including a patent-pending form of caffeine, provides safe, lasting energy support that may increase energy expenditure throughout the day, increasing calorie burn rate and supporting moderate weight loss over time.* Ultra Therm contains 150 mg of caffeine per serving (slightly more than a cup of coffee).

The Dieter's Cleanse 14-day program promotes elimination and supports the liver and digestive system as you work toward your weight management goals. (15% Off; in-store or online)

BENEFITS:

Promotes natural, healthy elimination.
Supports normal glandular function.
Supports the liver and digestive system.
May help maximize the nutritional benefit from the food you eat.

CleanStart is a 14-day full body cleanse that helps rid the body of waste and toxins. (15% Off; in-store or online)

BENEFITS:

Supports the natural, everyday cleansing of toxic waste from the body.
Works without posing dangerous side effects.
Improves energy and promotes a feeling of well-being.

SmartMeal is a nutritious meal replacement shake powder, for improved energy and cardiovascular support. Available in 3 yummy flavors (Vanilla, Chocolate & Chai). (15% Off; in-store or online)

BENEFITS:

Provides 15 grams of protein plus essential amino acids.
May help contribute to a feeling of fullness.
Supports cardiovascular health.
Contains nutrients for energy.
Provides 35% of the recommended Daily Value for 18 vitamins and minerals.

This tasty nutritional drink mix provides 13 grams of vegetable protein plus 75% of the Daily Value for 18 essential nutrients per serving. Nature's Harvest is vegan, dairy-free, lactose-free and gluten-free.
(15% Off; in-store or online)

BENEFITS:

Provides nutrient-dense plants, fruits and herbs for health and energy.
Provides 75% of the Daily Value for 18 essential vitamins and minerals.
Contains green foods, antioxidants, essential fatty acids, nutritive herbs, fiber and more.
Provides 13 g vegetable protein per serving.
Supports the intestinal and circulatory systems.
Is vegan, dairy-free and lactose-free.

Just for YOU....SPA-liday

Start the New Year in style with one of our Sparkling Spa Sessions. Guaranteed to help kick start your New Year's beauty and body goals!

Champagne Facial

Our luxurious Champagne Facial combines the hydrating, exfoliating and anti-oxidant properties of both Champagne oil and grapes. The Champagne Facial provides a large variety of phyto-nutrients with anti-oxidant properties including vitamins, phenols, cartenoids, and flavonoids...all of which remove dead skin cells, deeply hydrate and help reduce age spots due to over exposure to the sun.
This lavish facial will leave your skin feeling smooth, refreshed, & sparkly.
($65)

FAR Infrared Sauna Therapy

Now you can have your very own personal spa!
FAR Infrared therapy is excellent for healthy glowing skin! And, can aid in detoxification, weight loss & pain relief.

Health Benefits Attributed To Infrared:

Burns calories and controls weight (up to 900 calories in a 30 minute session)
Clears Cellulite
Helps improve blood circulation
Eases joint pain, stiffness, muscle soreness & increases flexibility
Strengthens the cardiovascular system and helps with Blood Pressure
Beauty...Improves blood circulation to the skin, which is essential for beautiful, youthful, glowing skin
- Deep cleanses skin and poor skin tone is restored to a more youthful level
Removes toxins and mineral waste.

($25)

the Skinny Massage*

The Skinny Massage is designed to tighten and tone the skin. By working the specialized "Skinny Massage Formula" into problematic effected areas, the circulation is improved, becomes softer & releases rigidity over time...assisting with decreased cellulite and overall inch loss. A simple 30min session will have you feeling tight, toned and ready to reach those New Years Resolutions!

($60)

The Ultimate Fat Blaster!

Experience the ULTIMATE in Fat Blasting potential! Take the Skinny Massage ...combine it with the additional benefits of the FAR Infrared Sauna and you have a fat melting treatment that can't be beat.
Your 20min sauna session, prior to your massage, will help stimulate circulation, open the pores & prepare your body for maximum results. Leave feeling detoxed, relaxed and tight & toned.
($75)