True Sustenance For Body, Mind & Soul
NOURISHMENT BEYOND NUTRITION
by Christina Fior
Before we can approach the subject of nutrition, it is important to explore the true meaning of nourishment. Just as wholesome food nourishes the body, wholesome thoughts and words evoke peaceful emotions to nourish the spirit. When we have loving thoughts and speak loving words, we become loving and healthy.
Scientists have researched the connection between our minds and our health. There have been studies which reveal certain diseases that are triggered by the activity of our minds. The thoughts we take in and digest have just as much impact on the health of our bodies as our food, and may be even be responsible for the way we actually digest our food.
Those who are battling with obesity are often challenged by diet plans to examine this area of their lives. However, whether a person is struggling with their weight or not, the same law applies. Food can either be our medicine or our poison, depending upon how it is used in relationship with our emotional health. When we do eat, it’s important to make sensible choices and eat consciously--not out of guilt or on-the-fly, but as a ritual for enjoyment.
Vital nourishment also includes the quality of air we breathe as well as how we breathe, the level of natural light we absorb, the melodic tones we listen to, the people and activities we surround ourselves with, and the inner connection with feel with our Source. Each component creates a kaleidoscope of sustenance for our survival and quality of living.
Living Life In Tune With Nature
The November 2005 issue of National Geographic highlighted a fascinating cover story on The Secrets of Living Longer. Writer Dan Buettner visited several cultures known for the longevity of their population to discover the commonalities amongst their lifestyles. There were several key factors, one being: living a simple life that is in harmony with their natural environments.
The foods they eat, because many of these cultures are more primal, include eating directly from the indigenous plants from their native soil. For instance, in Okinawa, mineral rich seaweed is regularly harvested from water embankments and used as a staple in the Japanese diet.
Throughout Italy and many areas of Europe, the intake of red wine harvested by indigenous vintners provides powerful heart healthy anti-oxidants to their already wholesome home grown diets which include zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes and fava beans, as well as dairy products from grass fed sheep and freshly caught fish from the sea.
The added component adding to the healthy lives other cultures is that the ritual of food, in all of its phases is a central focus around their lives. They are in nature to plant and harvest the food, they are laboring in the fields breathing fresh air, walking, kneeling and placing their hands in the water and dirt. They are completely dependent and therefore in tune with the elements of weather. They are dependent upon and celebrate community, and place value on their elders who teach their young how to have a place in community and are celebrated in later years for their wisdom. Their lives are exemplary to the idea that longevity is dependent upon acquiring nourishment from a number of vital sources and activities.
Conscious Food Preparation
Healthy foods prepared by loving hands and received in a spirit of gratitude, can infuse any culinary creation with a magical life force that significantly enlivens the dining experience! These special ingredients, combined with the insightful understanding and use of fresh herbs, fresh food combining, and exquisite presentation, can transform the eating experience from a habitual function to a sensual art form.
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