Wednesday, October 28, 2009

# 27 - Staying Vegetarian

The human body is designed to stay vegetarian – our nails are not long enough to tear open animal hides; we do not have naturally sharp front teeth to tear meat; our mouth has alkaline saliva with an enzyme called ptyalin to pre-digest grains; stomach acids in humans are too weak to digest meat properly; and our intestines are far too long to allow early detoxing upon eating meat. It is not crucial to turn vegetarian in order to stay flexible; just being aware of the difference is yogic enough.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

# 26 - Nature Foods

Fruits and vegetables that retain color and crunch offer highest food value, and are best assimilated within an empty stomach. Be aware that different fresh foods may release different enzymes, so eating them separately whenever possible prevents undue strain on the digestive system. To make the most of healing properties, nature foods should be consumed within the hour of cutting them open. Since most fruits (including acidic ones) turn alkaline when they enter the body, their nutrient value is immediately absorbed into the system, as long as there is no traffic jam of unhealthy remnants blocking the system.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

# 25 - Food Heals

Occasional fruit fasts and salad fests insulate the body from harmful excesses that weaken the immune system, while giving our digestive system a well needed break. Although pulps, purees, and smoothies without ice are more healthful than pulp free juices, it is a proven fact that steamed, baked, and poached foods are also nutritious. But foods that are processed, frozen, refined, or cooked in any way using direct heat tend to lower nutritional content. In addition, not only do fresh foods look, smell, and taste better, they also bring a healthful glow to our face, monitor body weight, and raise energy levels.


Tuesday, October 6, 2009

# 24 - When Good Food Tastes Bad

Basic physical fitness is not just about stretching. It involves a healthful diet that includes nature foods to help prevent/ delay/ deter/ heal common ailments. A combination of simple, ailment specific stretches peppered with a basic fresh food diet can become an unbeatable combination when it comes to fighting back everyday illnesses. Beans for arthritis, spinach for asthma, bananas for constipation, bitter gourd for diabetes, apples for hypertension, carrots for lumbago, papayas for piles (hemorrhoids), and tomatoes for sciatica are just a few examples of healing foods. But foods that are good for our body may not always taste good to us. Therein lies the paradox. It is up to us to take good foods often enough, so that they will eventually start to taste good simply because we start feeling better.