Bodies @ An Airport: (living outside our bodies)

I recently learned from health practitioners in hospitals and nursing homes that they can tell when a patient is close to death. They all describe it as ‘seeing’ the life force withdraw away from the limbs towards the center of the body. The hands feel “lifeless” although the patient may still be moving them.

While it might be more noticeable in the frail, many of us live our lives energetically withdrawn from our limbs or disconnected from the totality of our body.

When practicing shiatsu, I’ll often sense the receiver’s energy stop flowing in the chest, neck or shoulders. The meridians of the arms feel depleted of chi (life force) even if the individual is young, strong and healthy.

I am currently blogging from an airport. There is a couple sitting near by, both holding their chest high reflecting a personality of a proud achiever. They both seem too congested in the chest to make any space for relaxation, trust or tenderness in their communication. Some of the passing travelers walk through the world (or maybe just through terminal D) while holding everything inside. Each one has a holding pattern reflected in another part of the body. In contrast, others have the posture and stride of someone who can't seem to hold it together at all. The body is a mirror of they way we most commonly approach life.

We are not a culture that is living in our bodies. Who ever designed the chair I’m sitting in definitely did not have the health of my spine in mind nor was there much thought to my physical or mental health when planning out the airport’s food choices. We are not taught to listen and understand our bodies. Instead we are expected to learn from external resources. Similarly to the dying person, we withdraw our energy away from the whole and into the part. Energetically withdrawing into the thinking head we can no longer hear or comprehend the messages our body is trying to convey. We find ourselves confused about what to eat, how much to rest, when we are hungry, or when we are full.

Separating from the experience of our body, we separate from the roots of our existence. Our body is the container that enables our entire earthly experience. It is the flute that transforms air into music or the flower that manifests its vibrant colors. Without it we would all be floating potential unable to manifest.

The Food Pyramid... What Should I eat?

The Food Pyramid, a model created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has become an iconic illustration of what the USDA says is the element of a healthy diet. The Pyramid model has been taught in schools, appeared in the media and has been plastered on cereal boxes and food labels.

Tragically, the information conveyed in this pyramid hasn’t pointed the way to healthy eating. This symbol doesn't give enough information to help us make informed choices about our diet and long-term health. It continues to recommend foods that aren't essential to good health, and may even be detrimental in the quantities recommended. 

Every five years, the US Departments of Agriculture and of Health and Human Services update their nutrition recommendations for citizens.  The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans continues to reflect the tense interplay of science and the powerful food industry. The panel that writes the guidelines must include nutrition experts who are leaders in pediatrics, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and public health. Unfortunately the selection of the panelists is always subject to intense lobbying from organizations such as the National Dairy Council, United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association, Soft Drink Association, American Meat Institute, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, and Wheat Foods Council. With panelists representing diverse industries, creating the guidelines has become more of a negotiation process to appease all sides, rather than keeping the focus on the public’s best interest. 

Several of the new recommendations represent important steps in the right direction while others remain mired in the past. 

Positive changes include the continuing development in the recognition of individual caloric needs and recommendations for overall smaller portions. There is a shift to a more plant-based diet that emphasizes vegetables, cooked dry beans and peas, fruits, whole grains, nuts and seeds. Furthermore the guidelines emphasize the importance of significantly reducing the consumption of foods with added sugars, solid fats, sodium and refined grains.

Vital changes that have yet to be made include the following: 

* Grains: The guidelines lack instruction showing the difference between unrefined whole grains and

their refined versions. This is a shame since refined starches (found in cereals, breads, pastas etc.‘) behave like sugar, having adverse metabolic effects and increasing the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Pictures on the food pyramid of highly refined products such as white bread and pasta continue to represent examples of grains. Simply put, Special K is not a whole grain just as ketchup is not a tomato. 

Recommendation: Keep experimenting with unrefined whole grains. While you may have been eating wheat products your whole life, have you ever tried wheat berries from which the flour is derived?  View recipes for ideas. 

* Protein: The guidelines continue to lump together red meat, poultry, fish, and beans (including soy products) with little differentiation between each type. We are asked to judge these protein sources by their total fat content, making choices that are lean, low-fat, or fat-free. Due to the meat and dairy industries’ involvement in the guidelines, suggestions to lower the recommended amounts have not been approved.   

Recommendation: Because of our bio-individuality, protein requirements vary dramatically from person to person. Many people feel lighter and clearer when they reduce animal products. If you notice that you feel better when eating animal protein, enjoy it in smaller portions together with an abundance of vegetables. Click Here to learn more about plant-based and animal protein.

* Fat: Since the 2005 guidelines there has been more differentiation between detrimental fats like trans fats and health-promoting fats. While this has been an improvement to our past fat phobic education, most of us still have no idea what oils we should be using. 

Recommendation: Let ‘unrefined’ be your guideline. The unrefined label can easily be found on oils such as olive or sesame. Some brands of sunflower or canola can be found unrefined in health food stores. Saturated oils such as butter, ghee or coconut are always unrefined but should be used with care for cardiovascular health. 

* Dairy: The recommendation to drink three glasses of low-fat milk or eat three servings of other dairy products per day to prevent osteoporosis is another step in the wrong direction. Millions of Americans are lactose intolerant, and even small amounts of milk or dairy products give them stomach aches, gas, or other problems. This recommendation ignores the lack of evidence for a link between consumption of dairy products and prevention of osteoporosis as well as ignoring the suspected association of dairy with the causes of more serious diseases. 

Recommendation: Minimize your intake of milk and choose other dairy sources instead. Enjoy fermented products like yogurt and kefir and experiment with goat dairy products for better digestion. Choose raw dairy when available. Milk sensitivities often appear as digestive, respiratory or skin disorders. Try eliminating dairy from your diet and enjoy leafy greens, sesame, soy, flax, and seaweeds for their high calcium values.  Due to the antibiotics and hormones used in the US dairy industry, choosing organic is highly recommended. 

For more information Click Here

* Water: The USDA makes no mention of the importance of water. 

Recommendation: With the body made up of 75% water, it is essential that we continuously replenish this source. Drinking more water helps all of the body’s systems to run smoothly, enabling our organs to comfortably perform their functions. When the body is too dry it contracts. Drinking water helps relieve symptoms such as body tension, headaches, or any other stress related disorder. Hydration also keeps the skin smooth and clear.

Always keep a bottle of water on hand. 


Related Article: 
USDA's Replacement of Food Pyramid 

What's The Deal With Wheat?

Wheat berries are a suitable choice as a whole grain in the summer as they have a cooling thermal nature to them. According to Chinese medicine, this grain helps calm the mind and can be used as a remedy for palpitations, insomnia, irritability, menopausal symptoms and emotional instability. Wheat absorbs a wide range of minerals from the soil and is said to be a vital food in the process of growth and development. It encourages growth and weight gain so is especially good for children and frail individuals. Wheat, however, should be minimized if one is obese or if dealing with tumors or growths.

Wheat often causes allergic reactions as result of the flour products we normally consume that have been made with flour rancid from oxidation. Wheat flour should ideally be used immediately after grinding. Some people who are allergic to processed flour products can still digest cooked wheat berries or sprouted wheat. 

Wheat Berry Salad

1 1/2 cups wheat berries

3/4 cup chopped walnuts

2 stalks celery, finely chopped

1/2 cup chopped tart dried cherries/ dried cranberries (sweetened with apple juice concentrate rather than sugar) 

1 scallion, white and green parts, chopped

1/2 cup finely chopped parsley leaves

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons lemon juice

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

In a large pot combine the wheat berries with enough water to cover the wheat berries by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook uncovered for 1 hour, or until tender. Wheat berries retain a firm, chewy texture when cooked. Drain and let cool. Toast the walnuts in a medium dry skillet over medium-high heat until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine the wheat berries, walnuts, celery, dried cherries, scallions, parsley, olive oil and lemon juice. Season to taste, with salt and pepper.

Variation: add beans such as garbanzo or edamame and add your favorite vegetables such as green beans, peppers, asparagus, broccoli, etc’. 

Bulghur Wheat Tabouli

Bulgur is made from boiled wheat berries that are then dried and cracked. To avoid buying oxidized grains, purchase it in a sealed package and once opened, store in an airtight container.

1 cup bulgur

1 cup boiling water

¼ teaspoon sea salt

¾ cup parsley, chopped

2 scallions, chopped

1 tomato, diced

Juice of 1 lemon

3 tablespoons olive oil

2-4 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped

(or 1 teaspoon dried mint)

salt to taste

Place Bulgur in a mixing bowl, pouring over it the boiling water. Cover the bowl and let it stand for

15 minutes. Fluff with a fork and let it cool to room temperature.

Once cooled, gently toss all ingredients together. 

Grow your own Wheatgrass

Place wheatgrass in a container with soil, covered with an additional thin layer of soil, and water regularly until grass is grown. Grind or juice for its cleansing properties.