HOLISTIC NUTRITION

 

The most obvious step on the path to Holistic Health is maintaining balance in one's diet. What we consume and take into our bodies is incredibly significant. Yet  in a world of mass production, it can take much work and investigation to get to the bottom of what many products actually are. The world of food and drink has become quite consumerism-oriented. Mass production has led to lower quality and use of disposable packaging has led to environmental and health hazards. 

 

 

The following is a list of considerations for one who is interested in improving their Holistic Nutrition:

 

WHAT?

 

 What we insert into our body plays a role in how our lives look. Holistic Nutrition, particularly  in Ayurveda (Ancient Indian system of medicine), encourages one to enjoy food that varies greatly in color, taste (sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, astringent) and constitution. Constitutional qualities include: light/heavy in weight, cold/hot, dry/moist/oily, solid/liquid, fast/slow to digest, stable/mobile properties, hard/soft, clear/cloudy, smooth/rough, & subtle/gross form.  A balanced intake experience aids us in attaining balance! This is the reason why many medicines are bitter in taste. They often come to heal the commonplace unbalanced sweet intake.
Tip: Lemon water is often used to cleanse our bodies, much like we would use water and lemon to clean dishes, countertops, grease stains and more. 

 

WHEN?

 

Certain foods are more appropriate at certain times of day. For example, fresh fruits and raw food are more appropriate to be enjoyed during sunlight hours. When the sun is high in the sky and we are active, the energy harnessed from the sun helps break down the raw foods. Evenings are a more appropriate time to gather together and cook a home-made meal. This same order is recommended when one enjoys a festive meal. Begin with the lightest foods which have higher water contents, and afterwards consume heavier foods. This allows the lighter foods to be digested and not need to 'wait in line' while more difficult-to-digest foods are being processed. 
 

HOW?

 

The way in which we eat and drink is very significant. Are we open to truly enjoy and experience each bite and sip? We are meant to truly enjoy our eating and drinking experiences. This means allowing it the space, time and attention it deserves. It is best to eat from a place of healthy emotions such as excitement, gratitude and peace while avoiding eating from emotions such as frustration, anger, or sadness. Eating from a space of negative emotion will further depress the issue at hand while often not allowing full enjoyment of the consumption experience anyway. That being said, if we choose to 'emotionally eat,' we should at least be conscious that that is what we are doing. Conscious Eating also involves taking more time to enjoy each part of the consumption process. In this way, we reap the ability to enjoy sight, touch, smell, taste and even the digestive process to greater and greater degrees. 

 

HOW MUCH?

 

The amount we insert into our body also plays a significant role. When empty, the natural size of one's stomach is said to be approximately the size of one's fist. Piling large amounts of food into our systems ultimately slows us down. This is due to the physical weight of the food as well as the energy exerted in order to digest the myriad of substances, vitamins and minerals into and out of the body. Cleansing and "airing out" our inner physical worlds, at least on occasion, is an important step on the path to Holistic Health. 

 

WHY ?

 

Why are we eating? What are our intentions? What are our beliefs surrounding this topic? Which institutions are our eating habits powering and supporting? Are we eating from a fear of having deficiencies? Are we eating what we want to be eating?

 

The path to a balanced inner physical world goes hand in hand with balancing our inner emotional, mental and spiritual worlds. A clean body and a clean soul go hand in hand. Here, clean does not mean sterile! It refers to a purity that remains true to Source & to Self ...

 

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In simplicity, the more natural the food, the better it is for you! Fruits and vegetables have a water percentage similar to that of our bodies and that of the Earth. This makes them the most compatible with our bodies. Organic, fresh produce and water are key to high energetic levels. These foods are more easily digested than complex carbohydrates and starches. If we want to stay light and healthy, we need to stop weighing ourselves down physically with large amounts of food, heavy foods, difficult-to-digest foods, processed foods, dense animal products and so on. Processing food begins with cracking a nut open, continues in the form of cooking/baking/ roasting, and ends in enormous factories that produce edibles later marketed as food. Even processed supplements, like powders and pills marketed as superfoods, can be harmful to a functioning, healthy body. 

The closer we remain True to Nature, the closer Nature - Health, Abundance & Vitality - remains True to us. 

None of this is to say that we should jump to extreme dieting or restrict what we want to enjoy. Understanding the general direction, however, helps us in making educated decisions. Knowing the consequences of our actions, the sources of our foodstuffs and our dreams of how we would like to feel is the beginning of a journey of transitioning to a healthier, happier lifestyle.

 

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CLEAN WATER IS AT THE CORE OF VIBRANT HEALTH.

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Though many people today do not have access to clean water such as natural springs, wells or unpolluted rivers, many are choosing to filter their water in various interesting ways. Those include charcoal filters, vitamin C filters, reverse-osmosis systems, ionizers and much more. The water received via organic fruits, vegetables and greens also count as being filtered! You can also add some apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, chia seeds, salt &/or crystals to your water to boost its mineral & alkalinity content.

 

Each person must find their way toward physical health while being compassionate to themselves, their wants and deep-rooted habits. This two-part path is essential on the path to Holistic Health & Natural Healing.