In the last decade we've been bombarded with all sorts of diets that claim to be the BEST of ALL. Vegan, Raw-Vegan, Vegetarian, Paleo, Epi-Paleo, Ketogenic, Bullet Proof, Atkins, Ayurvedic, Gluten-Free. The list goes on.
Okay, we get it. What we eat matters!
But, what if instead of following a trend you start listening to YOUR OWN BODY?
Understand the role food plays
What you ingest goes through a digestive process that separates the nutrients from the waste. The blood transports the nutrients to ALL parts of your body (bones, muscles, and organs) to be used as energy and the leftovers go to the intestines to be released.
What you eat literally becomes you.
Let your body be your compass
Have you ever heard the saying, "Your body is your temple"?
I'm not referring to how your body looks, but to the way your body functions!
Our body is our own vehicle for us to go through life. Do you want to ride in a Lamborghini or a trash truck?
Our bodies have carried this wisdom from the very beginning. They know what to do to in order to thrive.
But modern society has become in between this intimate relationship and we have lost touch with our own bodies. We need to go to a doctor to figure out what's going on inside us. Isn't that weird? The doctor doesn't live in our body yet he/she claims to know more than us!
Connect with your body
In order to re-establish this connection we have to do some inner work where mindfulness plays a big roll. And you don't need to take a mindfulness course, you just need to be present with yourself.
How does that work?
Our body has these subtle ways to speak to us when we need water: the need to eat, rest, move, and poop (YES POOP!) but still we don't LISTEN to it.
So when you are thirsty, you actually need to go grab a big glass of water and when you need to poop....GO poop! Don't hold the toxins in! That is what makes you sick!
The more you LISTEN to your body the more it will talk to you and the more attune you will become.
Follow your body instead of following a trend. BE UNIQUE!
Isn't that liberating?
Our body knows what's good for it and has all the answers. Don't be afraid to trust that inner WISDOM.
What might be good for others might not be good for you. Some people feel great having a vegan diet while for other's they feel miserable. We are all different and that means we have different needs.
My exploration of health (where I'm not ashamed to say I've struggled) has brought me to the conclusion that BALANCE is key.
I'm a HUGE fan of fruits and vegetables and they make up a big part of my diet. But, I've also learned that my body needs healthy fats, fish, eggs, and certain nuts to keep it running at its best!
You will know what doesn't feel great in your body.
Put in your body the fuel you would put into a race car
I'm not a nutritionist so I cannot tell you what you should or should not eat, but I'll give you a list of the most and least nutritious foods based on the latest scientific studies.
Say YES to :
- All green leafy vegetables: my absolute favorites kale and spinach that are rich in chlorophyll
- Raw vegetables
- Sweet potatoes
- Matcha green tea
- Maca powder
- Avocado
- Raw nuts in general: My favorites Cashews, Walnuts and Almonds (avoid nuts roasted in palm oil)
- Kimchi, sauerkraut, and other pickled vegetables
- Kombucha
- Free range eggs
- Olives
- Sardines
- Fresh Wild Caught Fish like sardines and salmon
- Fresh Shellfish
- Grass fed and organic meat
- Grass fed butter
- Organic Bacon
- Organic Duck butter
- Organic nuts butters
- Organic coconut in all its forms: water, kefir, oil, milk, cream, shredded coconut.
- Sea Vegetables like dulce, nori, and spirulina
- Fruits that are in season
- Fresh herbs and spices like cilantro, basil, turmeric, and ginger
- Stevia
- Organic cacao in all its forms: dark chocolate, cacao butter, and cacao nibs
- Organic coffee
- Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
- Himalayan Pink Salt
- Cold pressed olive oil
- Quinoa
- Mushrooms
Avoid or just Say NO to:
- Highly processed foods
- Fantasy drinks
- Sugar and sugar substitutes
- Refined flours
- Alcohol
- Dairy: cheese, milk, ice cream, and yogurt
- Refined oils like soy, palm, and canola
- Deli meats like salami, ham, and pepperoni
- Fried foods
- Starches like pasta and bread
- Beans
- White rice
- Gluten
- Grains
- Pasta
- Soy unless it is fermented like tamari
It's ok to be your unique self! Don't follow a trend! Instead listen to yourself and to your own individual needs.
And most importantly, be loving and caring with yourself.
Namaste!
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Interested in learning more about food? Join us for our yoga retreat in the Costa Rica jungle where you'll eat from the land. Looking to learn more about mindfulness? Join us in Bali for our mindfulness & yoga retreat.
