What you put on your plate and in your mouth can support or diminish you and your life.

1. Dandelion:  Dandelions have been used for centuries to treat liver problems. The greens are rich in vitamins A, C and K, as well as beta-carotene and antioxidants. Taking a dandelion supplement can help improve production of bile in the liver and the real dandelion greens are even better.

2. Ginger:  Ginger root, a diuretic, helps the kidneys flush toxins from the body.

3. Blueberries:  Blueberries are the ultimate brain food. The tiny fruit packs a big punch with the highest concentration of antioxidants per serving among fruits. They also help boost neuron signals in the brain.

4. Salmon:  Omega-3 fatty acids, the unsaturated fats found in salmon and other fatty fish, help reduce the risk of heart disease. The American Heart Association recommends that people eat fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids at least twice a week, ideally wild caught rather than farmed.

5. Avocado:  Avocados are high in vitamins C, B6, E, K, as well as potassium and copper, all of which work wonders for the skin. The fruit helps restore hair’s luster as well.

6. Spinach:  Spinach is high in the carotenoid lutein, a natural antioxidant that can help protect the eyes from cataracts, macular degeneration and other diseases.

7. Broccoli:  Broccoli helps condition hair. The vegetable is high in vitamins A and C, which the body needs to produce sebum, an oily substance secreted by hair follicles to keep it healthyand shiny.

8. Flax Seeds:  Flax seeds are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids and protein, which help build muscles.

9. Jalapeños:  Jalapeños contain capsaicin, an active component of chili peppers that has potent antibacterial properties. Capsaicin stimulates secretions that clear mucus from your nose, which relieves nasal congestion and helps fight and prevent sinusitis, or chronic sinus infections.

10. Celery:  Celery is one of the best foods for teeth. The amount of chewing required to break down the crunchy vegetable increases the production of saliva, which helps destroy bacteria that cause plaque.

11. Sunshine:  Sunshine is not a food, but it is the best source of vitamin D, which is produced in the body in response to sunlight. Without vitamin D, our bodies cannot properly absorb calcium, and our bones become weak and brittle. Vitamin D supplements are recommended when you aren’t getting enough real sun.

http://www.thedoctorstv.com

It was almost a year ago that I wrote a post titled Re-Use Your Plastic Bags. Around that time, as a way to gather data for a book proposal based on this blog, I was sharing my expertise as a grocery shopping-cum-cooking consultant. One of glaring things I noticed shopping with people is the consistent and unnecessary over-use of plastic bags at the grocery store. Above is a pic of one of my client friends looking very sheepish because I had gently admonished her; every time she picked up an item of fresh produce, she grabbed a plastic bag.Whether it was ears of corn, a pound of apples, oranges or heads of lettuce, Amy, like so many people I’d shopped with, put her fruits and vegetables into plastic bags before depositing them into her shopping cart. Now, you’re probably thinking, “What’s wrong with that?! I do it; I put all my fruit and veggies in plastic bags.”

In response, I’m going to ask that you ponder why?!  I’m guessing your answer might be something along lines of “because they’re there!”  Right above the vegetables, or over by the fruit, it’s easy and it’s convenient to grab a plastic bag from one of the dispensers for your lettuce, potatoes, lemons etc.  In fact, one of my clients said that the reason she used plastic bags is because she thought it would be more convenient for the check out person! Yet, I’ve never found loose, un-bagged produce to be an issue at the check out. In other words, I’ve never had a check-out person say, “Excuse ma’am, we need you to put all your fruits and vegetables in individual plastic bags; it makes our job easier.” Of course, the reality is it’s not my responsibility to make the check out person’s job easier or more difficult (and I don’t believe grocery stores require that of me).

But waste, in particular plastic bag waste, is my responsibility. In fact, it’s everyone’s responsibility, including the check-out person at the grocery store, to reduce the number of plastic bags going into landfills. The title of the post I linked to above is Re-Use Your Plastic Bags, and if you read that post you’ll note that I’m not suggesting you do away with bagging your groceries in the small plastic produce bags or the large plastic carry bags.

Rather, I’m advocating using recycled plastic, and fewer plastic bags altogether, and then keeping your plastic bags and reusing them again and again, in fact, until they fall apart. As we move closer to Earth Day 2010 “use less plastic” will be the re-occurring message in this blog. If like me, you’re a visual person, and if you’re serious about wanting to change your relationship to plastic bags, and thus your relationship to the environment, watch “Plastic Bag,” an 18-minute indie film narrated by German film director, Werner Herzog. Reminiscent of the French film “Red Balloon,” it’s a poignant story on the vortex in the Pacific Ocean where plastic bags swirl about for eternity.

http://markettomouth.blogspot.com/2010/04/plastic-bags-grocery-shop-without-them.html

http://markettomouth.blogspot.com/2009/05/reuse-your-plastic-bags-other-earth.html

My body felt deep truth when I first heard food author Michael Pollan say, “What happens on our plates is the most profound effect that we have on the natural world.”  Obviously what we eat makes a big difference to our wallets and our waistlines, but we often don’t consider that our most intimate and daily engagement with the earth is through the food we eat.  How often do we stop to think about the ingredients of each bite, including the energetic imprints of the farmers, the food chemists, the packagers, the advertisers, the transporters, and the grocers who conveniently bring food to our mouths? And what about our own hard-earned bushel basket of attitudes, beliefs, emotions, habits, judgments, thoughts, traditions, regrets, worries, shame, guilt, and what-have-yous that taunt and tantalize our every bite? That’s quite a full plate. Just ask our hips.

Our daily food choices impact our internal and external landscapes more than anything else we do.  Our divine bodies artfully interlaced with the earth’s body humbly serve as our only irreplaceable home. As Carl Sagan insightfully noted over a decade ago, “Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusions that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.” (1)

On this “lonely speck” we have created the Great Pacific Garbage Patch between Hawaii and California. This floating noxious stew is constantly growing, with plastic being 90% of the ingredients. Whales, sea birds, and other animals snare themselves in nylon netting and six-pack rings, and choke on balloons, straws, and sandwich wrap. In a startling photographic series titled, “Stations of the Albatross,” artist Chris Jordan has documented what is happening in the North Pacific (ChrisJordan.com). He writes, “The nesting babies are fed bellies-full of plastic by their parents, who soar out over the vast ocean collecting what looks to them like food to bring back to their young. On this diet of human trash, every year tens of thousands of albatross chicks die on Midway from starvation, toxicity, and chocking.”  Jordan’s images document the actual stomach contents of baby birds in one of the world’s most remote marine sanctuaries, more than 2,000 miles from the nearest continent. (2)

By now you are most likely feeling overwhelmed and grabbing the nearest “edible food-like substance.” Lucky for us, our bodies are and have always been in the service of our most radiant health as well as undercover body guards for our most precious earth mother. In tandem, our bodies and the earth know exactly what creates and supports radiant health. Our heads, our habits, our emotions, our culture and traditions, science, not so much. As you heal towards full conscious embodiment, get curious about what you are eating and what is eating you. Does your kitchen inspire and encourage earth-friendly eating? What might be diminishing your health within and around you, including the health of your most precious children, or their children?

You and your family embody and reflect the energy of your kitchen. As you explore every nook and cranny, you may stumble upon an intriguing mix of emotional, mental, physical and spiritual triggers that lurk in the shadows until you are willing and ready to bring them to the light of day. Each food that seems to “get the best of you” mirrors an aspect that is asking for attention. Many internal triggers can be energetically cleared easier than you might imagine. Get friendly and listen lovingly to the amazing wisdom of your body. If all within your kitchen is pulsing with life force, you will be a reflection of that empowering energy and the earth will breathe a sigh of relief. Offer gratitude with each healthy choice you make, and our bodies, in alignment with the earth, will generously guide each step forward. 

Courageously acting solo or united as consumers, we have the biggest voices to demand and buy only food that will sustain our bodies and the earth and not settle for less. We vote at least three times a day with our forks. Where else in our lives do we have so much healthy impact?  The earth feels and responds ─ subtlety or abruptly ─ to each abuse, complacency, disregard, disdain, and unconscious act that also ages and deadens our physical bodies, bite by bite. To discover, embrace, respect, love, listen, and honorably nourish our most valuable assets are steps towards mastery. Every time we release and thoroughly transform a personal shadow we assist in nurturing our earth body. One cannot live without the other. A simple truth. Perhaps the only thing we need to remember.

This blog is published in the April 2010 issue of The Edge (http://soulofthecities.net/digital/2010/04/) under the title “Demand Life-sustaining Food” (page 14).

I am excited about co-creating discovery groups focused on healthy eating and kitchens aligned with a healthy earth. Interested? Reach me through my contact page. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

1) Sagan, Carl, Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space (New York: Random House, 1994).
2) Jordan, Chris, “Opening / A New Way of Seeing:  Stations of the Albatross,” Spirituality & Health, January/February 2010.

Release “What if?” or “Why me?” All is perfectly divinely orchestrated with perfect timing and perfect outcome for ultimate healing of yourself, the earth, and all before you. Rest within perfect yin and act in the world when you are inspired to act. Listen and feel the field around you that is a constant source of support for all that you are destined to do and become. Guidance and support surrounds those who are ready and able to listen with an open heart. Relax into all that is. There is nothing else to experience right now.

The wild wonder of Nature awakens me.
The vital voice of Earth sings me alive.
The elemental rippling within Creation rouses me.
I am fully embodied within Earth’s Great Green Body.

I remove the veil that shrouds my visibility to others.
Fortified within an armour of Light, I let my soul radiance shine.
My dedication for the Spirit rays forth for the world to see.
I am serving the world with my deep devotion.

I am willing to encounter adversity.
Descent into my soul’s depths forges the fire of transcendence.
Soul trial becomes Soul triumph within me.
My tears become diamond jewels of light for the world.

I learn to listen to my own voice.
I trust my inner knowing.
I find the confidence to follow what is right for me.
My light is a source of Truth for others.

I am the only one who can be me in the world.
Everything is waiting for my gift.
I will shine with the Holy Spirit of inspiration.
I will ignite my creative flame of Love for the World.

Cosmic Light beams its blessing into my Body.
Earthly Being pulses its vibrant Life-Field around me.
I feel this resonance of Light and Life weaving within my Heart.
I am nourished and sustained for my work on Earth.

My current blend of flowers in order of appearance:  Green Bells of Ireland, Monkshood, Glassy Hyacinth, Cerato, Columbine, Almond. Affirmations by Patricia Kaminski, Flower Essence Society, www.flowersociety.org

Deep gratitude goes to my artful tour guide through the flower realm, Jane Ellen Blossom of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Check out her and her wonderful supportive services at Transitional Integration.

What is the highest truth about alignment with the earth? Alignment with the earth is a natural process. Consider that your body comes from the earth and will return to the earth. As you live on it, consider all that nourishes you from the earth and nature. It is your only true source of support and life energy. All else is transient and can come and go at the whims of yourself and others. You have surrounded yourself with many things that you think are nourishment and necessary. Consider what is in your life that is truly not keeping you alive and thriving.

Take time to consider, connect and communicate with the earth, all of nature and your body this season. Your wise body is always informing you of all that you need to know to claim radiant health. Are you listening? Consider all that is stagnant within and around you that is untapped energy not available for your health or living your dreams. Consider releasing all that you do not have to time to take care of. Consider releasing all that does not nourish you on a deep soul level, physically, emotionally or spiritually. The further removed from the earth that something is, the less nourishment and energy it can provide to your body and your life. As one, your heart, body and soul are continually kept alive by an infinite matrix of energy and life. Are you enhancing or diminishing this generous support? Radiant life and love is always present for you when you are open to receive fully and abundantly.

Are you ready to express gratitude for your ever-present source of life energy from the earth?

Are you ready to create healthy soulful spaces within and all around you to receive optimum and abundant life energy?

What would it take to release all that no longer serves you?

What would it take for you to start living your heart’s desires today?

Author Michael Pollan recently inspired me when I heard him say, “What happens on our plates is the most profound effect that we have on the natural world.” Obviously what we eat makes a big difference to our wallets and our waistlines but we often don’t consider that our most profound engagement with nature is through the food we buy and eat. Our daily food choices impact our internal and external landscapes more than anything else we do.

The farther a food has traveled from its source, the less life force it offers. Locally-grown foods, unaltered by processing, satisfy you and your taste buds. Fresh raw vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and seeds are on the top of the list, ideally organic.  Wild-caught fish and free-range beef, pork, and poultry also offer sustenance. However, did you know that the United Nations has determined that livestock production is responsible for 20% of the greenhouse gases that are part of worldwide global warming, more than cars, planes, and all other forms of transportation put together? Also worth considering from the Environmental Defense Fund:  if every American replaced just one meal of chicken per week with vegetables, the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than a half-million cars off U.S. roads.  You don’t need lots of variety or quantity at every meal to eat a balanced diet. It’s more important to eat variety throughout the week and across the seasons.

Also consider the garbage generated by your choices. Tons of food packaging sit on our earth and float in our precious water sources. Consider filtering your water if needed and hydrate your thirsty cells throughout each day from a glass or stainless steel container. The earth will breathe a sigh of relief when we commit to no more non-decaying plastic. Consider primarily eating foods that have a life cycle, decaying back into the earth just like our bodies and all of nature.

Earth and body-healthy foods do not harm those who are planting, raising, distributing, or selling them. Imagine a world where you know where your food comes from and all who come in contact with it. Not everyone can plant a garden and grow their own food, but you can support the farmers and gardeners around you.  Spring is the perfect time to venture out to local farmers’ markets, explore our many co-ops, and consider Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs). Invest up front in local farmers who deliver sustainably grown foods direct to you.

Drink in the life-sustaining energy of pure unaltered foods that are in colorful abundance all around you and check inside. Your body knows exactly what it needs for optimum health. Insist on delicious nourishing whole foods that are created with care from healthy plants and animals, are grown and harvested with methods that support our earth, and are produced and sold by people and companies with integrity. Offer gratitude for each healthy choice, and your body and the earth will continue to generously support you in return.

Published in Whispers of Spirit, June 2009. Whispers of Spirit

You are a child of God. You are God with unlimited power.

You are supported by all that is true and pure. Release all that does not feel right to you. You are destined for all that you desire and all that you desire will be yours. What is yours comes to you with delight and gratitude. Open your body to receive all nourishment that life is offering.

Do not live from a place of lack or wallow in what does not appear to be currently present in your life. All life energy exists without creation or destruction and all that you need is already present. As you open more fully to all that is around you and as you give to the world, more can be and will be naturally received by your body and your soul.

Energy is efficient. Creating more space allows for more energy flow. Constriction restricts energy flow.  Consider what is decaying, dying or dead in your life, all that no longer brings you joy or lights your soulful heart. Why do you cling to that which is no longer provides energy? New pure life energy can only flow into open clear space, within your body, your home, your community, and your world. How can you create space? How can you open to all that is waiting to be given and received? Are you ready to release all that no longer supports joy and love within your own wild precious life?

“Every night as you sleep, you have the option to let go of what has hurt you, what has lessened your light, what has landed in your heart, and fly to the stars and dance in the heavens, and be birthed anew on the sunrise.” Gillian MacBeth-Louthan (May 2009, http://tinyurl.com/6hj73c)

The wide arms of the Life-Mother hold me.

I rest into the splendid depths of Her body.

I feel the beauty and bounty of this communion.

I am embodied within the nurturing Mother of all Life.

The Mother of the the World illumines my heart.

My pain of separation is mended through her Mothering Mercy.

I embrace the wide circle of human family as my family.

The Matrix of the World Mother grows spacious in my Soul.

I celebrate the joy and juice of bodily life.

I am succulent with possibility.

I take risks to manifest my magnificence.

I will share this rich radiance with others.

I open my Self to include the needs of others.

I allow my heart to share freely with others.

I grow through Giving of my Self.

I am the only one who can be me in the world.

Everything is waiting for my gift.

I will shine with the Holy Spirit of inspiration.

I will ignite my creative flame of Love for the World.

Flowers in order of appearance:  Madrone, Splendid Mariposa Lily, California Peony, Star Thistle, and Columbine.

Affirmations by Patricia Kaminski, Flower Essence Society.

Deep gratitude for my artful tour guide through the wise world of the blessed conscious flowers:  Jane Ellen Blossom of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Check out her and her wonderful services at Transitional Integration.

Focus and tune in every day to what foods make you feel vibrant, radiant and healthy. These will also be the foods that will create and maintain your perfect healthy body at its ideal weight and shape.

Here are 12 things that everyone can truly thrive with:

1) Commit whole-heartedly to eating only whole real healthy food.

2) Drink pure filtered water throughout your day, flavored with real lemon if desired.

3) Nourish and detoxify daily through eating plenty of these veggies, ideally fresh, raw, and organically grown:  artichokes, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, chorella (a nourishing sea vegetable that is great for detoxifying the brain) cilantro, garlic, green tea, kale, parsley, and watercress. You can eat great volumes of these healthy veggies and not gain a pound!

4) One teaspoon of any of these spices will boost your antioxidant power:  cinnamon, ginger, oregano, red peppers, rosemary, thyme, turmeric, and yellow curry.

5) Eat enough plant-based fiber and protein throughout the day to keep your blood sugar stabilized, including some low-fat protein with breakfast every day.

6) Use extra virgin olive oil as your main oil and boost your metabolism at the same time.

7) Take whole food supplements and consider working with someone who is trained in Nutritional Response Testing to find out what supplements your body really needs. (Contact me for a recommendation.)

8)  Eat early and often. Eat something healthy every three to four hours. Avoid eating two to three hours before bedtime.

9) Don’t eat much when you aren’t truly hungry. Eat just enough to avoid swings in blood sugar. Eat only until you are gently satisfied, not full. Wait 20 minutes before taking seconds. Check inside:  are you still hungry?

10) Reduce anxiety and stress with walks, naps, baths, movement, dance, meditation, music, play with your kids or pet, or enjoyable conversations. Keep a ready mental list of whatever makes you feel good and nourished without unconsciously grabbing food for comfort.

11) Intend to move 15 to 45 minutes per day to keep your blood circulating and help to shrink your fat cells. Search for movement and exercise that feels fun to you.

12) Plan to get seven to eight hours of essential sleep every night. Don’t plan on “making up” sleep on the weekends or on your vacation. It’s not possible. Your body will keep struggling to “make do” and will put on a happy face but sooner or later your body will force you to rest and restore through an accident, illness, or disease. That is not the preferred path!

A good way to enjoy the food you eat and to avoid overeating is to pay attention to the present moment. Take a moment for gratitude and life-enhancing conscious breathing before eating or drinking anything. Eat and digest consciously. Choose to eat food that you enjoy and that will provide true and lasting nourishment for your body. Honor your body today for all it does for you moment by moment, often without encouragement or support!