Health is a choice that we make everyday

"Hunger is the first element of self-discipline. If you can control what you eat and drink, you can control everything else." Shaykh Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah

For the entirety of human existence, up until 1910, humans were eating only whole, unprocessed foods that came strictly from the earth. We were eating what was in season and growing around us. In just 100 years, not even the littlest blimp of existence, that has drastically changed. Now, much of our food is being shipped from hundreds if not thousands of miles away to make it onto grocery store shelves, not at all dependant on the season. Ingredient lists are filled with words we don’t know how to pronounce and we choose convenience over care for our bodies. It is a scary reality that has not yet withstood the test of time. 

Eating whole foods gives the body the essential building blocks it needs to be able to restore and maintain itself. Understanding what to eat and how food affects the body is crucial in order to be the healthiest and most optimal version of ourselves. Think of your body like a car. A car is a very intricate machine with so many different parts to it, and it requires a very specific type of fuel in order to function. Also true for the body, it is made up of certain materials and needs a very specific type of fuel in order to function properly. Our bodies are alive and intelligent, and needs foods that are also alive and intelligent. 

Plants are alive and intelligent. We are supposed to be eating plants. Plants have been growing here on earth since the beginning of time. Endless studies have concluded that our bodies thrive from eating plants and herbs. They are full of vitamins, nutrients, and the life force that our bodies need to survive. They meet the very specific needs that the body requires for survival. 

The problem with processed food ly in the processing. When food is processed, it is altered and when it is altered it is no longer whole. This isn’t necessarily the worst thing, until you start adding artificial ingredients into the mix.

The FDA’s definition of artificial ingredients is as follows;

“The term artificial flavor or artificial flavoring means any substance, the function of which is to impart flavor, which is not derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof.”

In other words, artificial ingredients are made from chemicals that were not originally sourced from nature. The purpose of artificial ingredients are to enhance flavor,color, texture & extend the shelf life of food. The problem is that these flavors are being made in a laboratory out of chemicals that are foreign & indigestible to our bodies, and that all the food sitting on those shelves have died by the time they reach our stomach.

In the multi billion dollar flavor industry, flavor formulas are being created, patented and sold at top dollar to corporations all around the globe. The FDA(food and drug administration) has approved a list of chemicals called GRAS (generally recognized as safe) for human consumption. If the ingredient has been deemed GRAS the FDA does not require flavor companies to disclose the exact ingredients used but rather use the umbrella term “flavor.” This becomes very scary because then food manufacturers are not aware of exactly what is in their products. 

According to the USDA National Organic Program: “Aliphatic acyclic and acyclic alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids and related esters, lactones, ketals, and acetals comprise more than 700 of the 1,323 chemically defined flavoring substances in the United States. Additional structural categories include aromatic, heteroaromatic, and heterocyclic substances with characteristic organoleptic properties."

The side effects from eating these artificial, processed foods is detrimental. When we are regularly eating these processed “foods” disguised as food, a number of health problems occur. Since the body does not recognize and cannot process these “foods,” it passes through out body and poisons us, stripping us of our health. This may sound a bit harsh but it is a hard truth. It breaks my heart. 

I have great news for you though!!! The human body is amazing and resilient!! We have the power to heal ourselves. With awareness, plants and whole food, and saying no to things that we know are going to take away from our health. It is never too late to turn your health around but it does require a lot of willpower and willingness to be uncomfortable and try new things. If you slowly integrate new foods and practices around food into your diet, your body will begin to reconstruct and your taste buds will begin to change. You will crave less instant gratification sugar highs and more deeply satisfying nutrient dense meals, every time. 

If you really think about it, life is happening on a microcosmic level. What we see, touch and feel is not a true test of reality. I like to think of it as one big chemical reaction. Our eyes act as cameras, snapping photos from the inside looking out, not the other way around. We have billions of cells and bacteria surviving, thriving, and living out their entire lives inside of our gut. It trips me out to think that all of these teeny tiny organisms are eating, pooping, sleeping, and living entire lives inside of us. Each one has its own mission and purpose. Each one is being driven by the same life force intelligence that drives us. 

Our bodies are living libraries. They contain so much information and knowledge, most of which is unconscious to us. The secrets of the universe are stored inside of our DNA. Everything that has ever happened to us in our whole entire life is stored inside our subconscious mind. The body has amazing capabilities beyond our understanding. It is possible to access these capabilities and tap into our inner knowing if we are taking optimal care of ourselves. This means eating a clean diet eating foods that are meant for the body. If we are eating things that are not meant for the body, the body begins to become clogged and inflamed, causing build up and blocked channels. If our channels are clogged, energy is not able to flow through freely. When energy does not flow evenly we get imbalanced. Imbalances are the root of disease. And don’t be mistaken, imbalance can happen from more than just food. What we watch and listen to has a huge impact on the brain and body. It also needs to be digested into our body like food does, it gets processed and then makes us into who we are. 

Intuitive eating plays an essential role in eating for health. When we are connected to our body we are able to listen to what it is asking from us. 

As I transform my diet, I transform my life

A diet is not what you don't eat but rather, your diet is everything you are putting into your body.

Intuitive eating plays an essential role in eating for health. When we are connected to our body we are able to listen to what it is asking from us. When we eat intuitively we may begin to notice that one week we are craving sweet potatoes while the next we are craving warm, easy to digest soups. This is the body's way of asking you for the nutrients it is lacking.

Intuitive eating allows you to eat whatever you want without telling yourself "No, I cant have that." Which is a form a punishment that will only make you want it more. Instead, we are intuitively able to have our cake and eat it too by finding a balance. "I ate pretty healthy this week so I will allow myself to have this glass of wine and piece of cake without guilt." Moderation allows you to be able to still indulge at times because you know that you take proper care of your body.

By becoming more aware, befriending and respecting your body, your body in turn will take better care of your mind. We see so much dis harmony happening all around the world right now. Our current state of society could be deemed insane. When our bodies are out of harmony, our minds are out of harmony, and the state of our planet will also be out of harmony.

Eating is something that we all have in common. We all need food to thrive and survive every single day. Believe and know that by fueling the body with proper food you will see a huge difference in your state of being, your day to day thoughts, attitudes, moods and actions.

We only get one body in this incarnation, taking proper care of it is THE most important thing you can do while you are alive!