Food for Thought, Mood and Life

"On one hand study cooking, study yourself, study what is happiness, what is joy, what is it you really want in your life?”
--from 'Cooking Your Life'

I work at a doctor's office and I watch people take a pill for everything... a pill to go to sleep, a pill to wake up... a pill to kill the pain... a pill to make the feeling come back... It's only a matter of time before there's a pill for what we eat-- oh wait, there is... vitamins. Well, vitamins are not our problem, so long as we still have food. And I'm not knocking doctors either. I am, however, making a big statement about food, and that is that as a nation, we forgot how to eat... And that if we change what we eat, we may be able to prevent the onset of certain diseases. Healthy food is something very important to me. I think that everyone has a right to know about it. Currently we are neglecting to attend properly to what we put into our bodies. Now, most of us are human... we are not saints. We cannot always control what we put into our bodies, and even when we can, sometimes we simply do not want to! Hey, beer, wine-- they go quite nicely with a little dinner party or a night out with friends... and they sure can take a little of the edge off in this crazy world... I myself am a big fan, but I don't consume as much as I used to because it simply is not good for us. But even with alcohol, it's better to choose the organic, biodynamic, less processed and more pure forms. But for goodness sake, cut out the toxins that don't even give you a buzz: fast food, high fructose corn syrup, white sugar, artificial sweeteners, refined flour... and all the other crap that's deceptively labelled as healthy at our local grocery stores... Most people who have access to this blog are fortunate enough to already have access to health education. However, even my well educated and respected peers are not completely aware of the truth behind what we eat. (If they read Michael Pollan's "In Defense of Food" they will be much more enlightened..) And with obesity and degenerative diseases growing rapidly, I have made it my duty to pass on the truth about food. It's not about fad diets, or plans that force you to count calories while enabling you to consume massive quantities of aspertame and red meat... It is instead, about living your life in a mindful way. And when we eat by way of mindfulness, in tune with the seasons, the earth and our bodies, we live better... in fact, two of the oldest systems of healing, Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, emphasize the significance of proper food for the body. And it really does start with minimalizing animal products... even for the sole reason of upping your produce intake and decreasing your intake of saturated fat (which comes from animals), in order to help stave off degenerative disease. Studies show that vegetarians have a lower risk of cancer; that said, a person can be vegetarian and still eat a diet of empty, processed carbohydrates-- and that's not good. The solution to well being begins with eating less acid-forming foods, and boosting alkalinity in the body. This can be accomplished by eating more plants, salads and vegetables of every kind. Just start including greens at every meal. Do not trust any diet that says to lower this... it is common sense! Yes, vegetables and fruits have carbohydrates, but they are the good kind! The food that grows out of the earth is for us to eat... so that is what we should be eating. You want to feel alive, not groggy right? Well then use your sense... if you put a twinky in the ground, does it grow a tree? If you put a seed in the ground, does it produce life? You know what to do... the problem is that it is not easy to change. You literally have to break free of old patterns and rewire your brain. We are accustomed to instant gratification in every aspect of our lives and thus I know that it is daunting for many to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to live in a healthy way. But our ancestors were not so gratified; they had to gather and hunt. If you make eating more of an event, a ritual, something for which to be patient and to be grateful... you will find yourself feeling better and losing weight. You will find that your thoughts are more clear and your mood is better. You will have more energy, and you will be in control of your health. And because it takes a little research, learning and shifting of old habits, I am here to help because I can and because I enjoy it. I am embarking on a journey to expose to the world the truth about health and help people get back on track. Right now, I am assembling all the little details and specifics, but this is leak into my thought process and a sneak peak at my adventures to come...