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Chew! Chew! Chew Your Way to Vibrant Health Many people ask me about eating “organic”. I think it is a great idea, but have you seen the prices of so-called “organic” foods these days? It is not always affordable. Also, just because the broccoli you bought at the green market is not certified organic does not mean that it was grown by using harmful pesticides and chemicals. Organic certifications are not always reliable; it is a financial and political issue most of the time. Also, for farmers to be stamped with the organic seal of approval, they usually have to make a huge financial investment even though they are already operating using practices that far exceed the standards for organic certification. Responsible, biodynamic farmers don’t tend to go into farming for the money!! They do it because they have a love for nutritious food and are passionate about nurturing the land, so they may not always have a ton of cash on hand to institute the changes required to gain certification. So what do you do? How do you know if the food you buy is nutritious or harmful? Chances are, you won’t. Here is what I recommend: instead of worrying about something that is unknown, put your positive energy towards something you have control over – chewing! Chewing and digestion go hand in hand. Digestion starts in the mouth. We don’t have teeth in our stomach, so it makes sense to help the process along by chewing each bite thoroughly. When we chew our food very well, any harmful components in the food are alkalized and become harmless. It is bound to happen – you will have a long day, not a moment to catch a bite to eat and you will get to a point when you are RAVENOUS – you need food and you need it now. Chances are when that moment arrives you will not be near the health food store. More likely, you will be across the street from a fast food joint or on a subway platform next to a newsstand that only carries packaged, highly processed, sugary and salty options. Not taking in food at that moment could be a bad idea – you may become that infamous “sick passenger” that holds up the train. Don’t do it! Eat something – even if you think it is “unhealthy”. It is better to eat when you are hungry than to put your system into starvation mode, which has longer and more damaging effects. What I do ask you to do, is to bless the food you are about to take in, know that it is giving you solid nutrition and making you stronger and CHEW IT WELL! Each bite. Instead of thinking, do an experiment. Take a bowl of cooked brown rice or even the very next meal you eat, just sit quietly and chew each bite 50 times and see how you feel afterwards. You will have to slow down your hectic life for a moment, but it’s worth it. -Produces more energy and endurance Here is one final excerpt from Lino’s book to really convince you of the power of chewing your food well: “….chewing strengthens our immune system and promotes rejuvenation. The salivary glands produce enzymes that begin digesting carbohydrates in the mouth….Also, chewing stimulates the release of parotin hormones which encourage the thymus to create T-cells, the protectors of our immune system. Parotin hormones are released by the parotid glands, located on each side of our jaw behind our ears. If grains are swallowed without proper chewing, the pancreatic enzymes will be unable to break down the food into its basic components. In this case, the grains will only be partially absorbed by the intestines. Poorly digested food can sometimes produce mental and emotional side effects such as irritability, moodiness and anger.” Wow! That is a lot of information to digest!! That is why it is always good to sit and contemplate what you have read or eaten – this allows for the best assimilation of data as well as nutrients. This is one challenging habit to integrate. It sounds very simple, but it takes effort and motivation. It all starts with your next bite. Now that you have read this article I suspect that you will be more conscious about chewing and eating slowly. Don’t get overwhelmed; we tend to automatically fall back into patterns. So next time you find yourself rushing through your lunch don’t make it worse by going on a guilt trip too. Simply, stop, take a deep breath and slow down. There are no mistakes. This way of eating and living is a process, it won’t happen over night.
OUCH, my liver! So, about that liver……Do you know it is the second-largest organ you have besides your skin? Did you know you can damage two thirds of it and if you change to a healthy lifestyle it will fully regenerate itself? Pretty amazing! It’s a good thing this organ is durable because it is the one organ that has to filter out all the toxins we subject ourselves to, including pollution, medications, alcohol, refined sugar and according to Chinese medicine – the emotion anger. That could be a lot of work for your tired liver. Remember when you were 22 and could drink all night and jump out of bed the next day energized and ready to party some more? Spring break!! Now, 2 glasses of wine give you a headache. That’s a sluggish liver trying to tell you something.
What in the World is MSM? Are you looking to add some zip to your zing? Do you have an ache or pain that keeps you on the sidelines? Have I got a solution for you…MSM! Nope, I am not referring to your internet browser but rather the fourth most abundant mineral in all living organisms, i.e.: humans and their pets. This mineral exists in all of our cells and is required in many vital functions. MSM is short for methylsulfonylmethane, a naturally –occurring dietary sulfur compound. It is naturally-occurring but because most peoples’ diets consist of packaged and processed foods found on supermarket shelves, the substance is destroyed and therefore we tend to experience a deficiency of MSM. Benefits attributed to supplementing with MSM include alleviating the following:
There are better alternatives to taking handfuls of pain medication. I know it can be confusing, but that is why I am here to help. Call me if you need support getting fake foods out of your diet and real nutrition back into your life.
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