Welcome to my blog! Check out my profile and/or website to see who I am and what I do, and let’s talk about how using the stuff that really feeds us does make us healthier.
Getting healthy is not just about eating right and getting regular exercise. There’s so much more that you can do. Consider supplementation, stress managment, and other aspects of holistic health. Plus there’s all the other stuff that “feeds” us that has nothing to do with stuff we put in our mouths. Stuff like hugs, sex, love, singing and dancing, looking at a beautiful sunset, engaging in stimulating conversation, doing charity work. You know, stuff that feeds your soul, feeds your spirit, feeds your passion.
What feeds YOU?
As far as health goes, I am passionate about using food as medicine (before drugs and surgery when not a life-threatening situation). When I hear of someone who has a cold, is under the weather, has allergies, or has some chronic condition, I’m immediately clicking through my mental recipe file, and I usually have some combination of foods (and other stuff that is nourishing) that will make you feel better.
Got a sore throat? Licorice and slippery elm tea, followed by a steam inhalation with pure eucalyptus oil.
Feeling low on energy? Eat more garlic, onions, peppers. Do 10 jumping jacks. And take a whiff of essential oil of grapefruit.
More serious stuff?
Ok, how about diabetes? High blood pressure? High cholesterol? Eat more fresh whole foods, start choosing more low-glycemic foods, and get sugar the heck out of your diet. Other stuff–take your dog for a brisk walk and love on your cat.
ADD or ADHD? Back away from the TV. Move slowly, and no one will get hurt. Chances are you won’t even miss it.
I help people who are concerned about chronic degenerative diseases, especially heart disease, metabolic syndrome, and type II diabetes. The underlying causes of these are basically the same: an imbalance of nutrients and abundance of stress at the cellular level. I want to use this blog to post nutritional information, “diet” news (I don’t believe in diets, by the way), current findings about nutritional science, stress reduction techniques, whatever would help people live longer, healthier lives.
Come back often and let’s get some dialog going about health, choices, what’s in the media, and other food for thought.
In health and harmony,
Sally
i would like to be included in your revised and improved conscious-eating experiment. the first time it was put out there it actually felt too difficult. I eat quite well as far as minimum sugar, no sodas, minimum alcohol. could probably increase the green veggies but anyway, i am still gaining weight. i am now 20 pounds overweight. i refuse to go on a “regular” diet as they only last so long. I’m active all day long in the garden, dog, biking and now in the pool. I have just started medical qi gong in hopes to tackle the problem from a new angle. it appears to me that if a person’s energies are balanced then the eating challanges and weight challanges should balance themselves.
your thoughts please.
thanks
Comment by Barb Aigen — May 30, 2008 @ 9:35 am
Thanks for your comment, Barb.
I think you’re on the right track by staying active, increasing the green veggies, and keeping the high-glycemic “roller coaster” substances low (refined sugar, sodas, alcohol). Eating low-glycemic and staying active, combined with supplementation, stress reduction, and support, are the key to a healthy balance of weight, body-mass index, and cellular health.
You mention a person’s energies. I agree. What balances a person’s energy is different per person, although on the surface it looks similar from person to person, and those are the five things I just mentioned, what I call my “Quintessenial Wellness System”:
* low glycemic eating (not a diet–I’ll cover that in another post)
* supplementation (required for cellular health–American Medical Assocaition among others are now saying it’s not an option–diet is not enough)
* activity (keeping moving, cardio, flexibility, weight bearing exercise)
* stress reduction (meditation, breathing, play, doing nothing)
* support
An easy thing to do to begin losing weight is to SLOW DOWN and BREATHE! Your qi gong will contribute to this. I would recommend breathing more (maybe you do this already, but others might not). I know it sounds kinda funny. Try this as a qi gong/healthy eating practice: when you sit down to eat (and you should be sitting down to eat, not standing or driving a car), rest your hands in your lap and close your eyes. Take five deep breaths. Feel a cool breath enter your nose and slowly fill your lungs. This will expand your lungs, your belly, your abdomen, perhaps even your back. As you exhale, bring your belly in and contract your abdomen. Do this deep breathing 5 times. That will prepare your body for receiving food, and you’ll probably eat less, chew your food more, get more nourishment from your food, and ultimately, lose weight.
Let me know how it goes!
Sally
Comment by Sally — May 30, 2008 @ 10:04 am
thanks Sally, I’ll give 5 breaths a try. it sounds easy but in reality I already know it will present as a challange. Already there is getting dinner ready and served in a timely manner and then getting up again because i forgot to get the salt and pepper or catsup or whatever and attempting to have an engaging conversation and look my best for my family AND NOW …remember to breathe 5 times. Riiiight!
Comment by Barb Aigen — May 30, 2008 @ 7:19 pm
I DID IT
YES, I ACATUALLY REMEMABERED
the 5 breaths felt almost like praying. so calming. so if i remembered once i guess i can somehow remember again.
it felt WONDERFUL
Comment by Barb Aigen — June 2, 2008 @ 8:28 am
I DID IT.
I REMEMBERED TO DO 5 BREATHS
IT FELT WONDERFUL
kind of like praying before meals should feel.
so if i remembered once i guess i can remember twice.
Comment by Barb Aigen — June 2, 2008 @ 8:30 am
I cant seem to get your blog to work. I really really want to let you know that I DID IT
I remembered the 5 breaths and it felt wonderful kind of like praying before meals should feel.
i hope you get this blog because the experience was special and worth going for again. i was happly surprised
Barb
Comment by Barb Aigen — June 2, 2008 @ 8:35 am