As written by Maria Van Pelt, a patient of 
Dr Maria Ridao Alonso

A nearly 3 year stay in Dubai is coming to its end. It has been fantastic living here in this multicultural city. But before leaving I would like to share with you my very positive experience and dealings with the DHTC, which I have been visiting on a regular basis since March 2010.....would I only have known what impact it has had on my wellbeing, I would have visited the clinic when I arrived here! 

Prior to coming to Dubai I lived for 8 yrs in Sweden, where I worked full time and lived a pretty healthy lifestyle. Despite this, I felt less healthy and energetic for every year that passed.....with sympthoms as constantly tired, energy drained, increasing headaches and migraines, weight gain, joint pains, being bloated, stomach cramps, increasing skin itching etc. 

Through word of mouth I heard about the DHTC and visited Dr. Maria Ridao Alonso and Prof. Yan. They listened to my medical history, my lifestyle, did a blood test for food intolerances and later as well a hormone test, prescribed daily decoctions of Chinese herbs/plants, checking blood pressure, weight, pulse and tongue on a bi-weekly or monthly basis. Simultaneously I had some treatments of acupuncture, acupressure and tuina massage & daily dosis of vitamins/minerals.

The intolerance tests showed 29 intolerances and a further 21 products I had to be careful with......no wonder I reacted, initially so hefty to the first badges of decoctions: my body was pretty toxicated and the broad scale of intolerances had left my immune system very vulnarable. 

But it worked!! :)) I eat everything FRESH and leave out the food products I'm intolerant to, and never eat any semi-ready-food, frozen dinners, fast food or food with additives. The reward is enormous: weight loss (10 kg), my old energy levels are back, headdaches gone and migraines strongly reduced, gone are joint pains, stomach cramps and itching. In one word: rejuvenated!

As the weather starts to warm up, your nutrition needs are going to change a little bit. Sure, the basics stay the same – you need to eat a balanced diet, watch your caloric intake, etc. However, there are some extra things that you have to pay attention to when the temperatures outside start to rise.

“Passion Fruit Pineapple Punch ” 

One sip of this fruity combo and you will be whisked away to the tropics. In a small pitcher, mix 1 cup passion fruit nectar, 1 cup pineapple juice, 1/4 cup fresh lime juice, and 1/4 cup coconut milk. Pour into 4 ice-filled glasses and top with lemon or lime seltzer.