Easy to Make Meals Equates to Easy to Digest: A Paleo View
When we prepare foods at home for mealtime, it can take more time to make the meal based on complexity of the menu prepared Yes, usually when we take the time on the weekends to cook something exploratory in the kitchen, it'll be more complex
And the observation that I'm making today is that when the cooking becomes complex and involved there is a relationship between the complexity and ease of digestion There can as a result be more digestive challenges for us Perhaps along the lines of the Paleo diet view
Classic French Cuisine
Of the years in the kitchen and the evolution of my foray into different cuisines of the world, my observation seems to hold here
The natrue of the cleanups related to, say the complexities of classic French cooking, required much more time, effort and steps in order to craft the end product than other menus prepared Dishes, pots and pans, skillets to bring together the ingredients led to more complex dishes to digest because the ingredients themselves were often heavy, cold, smooth, oily, cloudy, and dense qualities all leading to a challenge for the digestive system based on the energy science nutritional system of Ayurveda A Kapha aggravating like meal
And my observation is not limited to the French but actually any haute cuisine In every culture there seems to be this relationship between the length of time of production to the digestive challenge that lies ahead for each of us
The Simpler the Nutrition the Easier to Digest
It almost makes intuitive sense, doesn't it? I mean it's pretty simple to eat an apple But digesting an apple is a lot easier than a fettucine alfredo
And then there's something simple and delicious like graham crackers and milk? Hmmm... milk the complete food along with some grain Perfect complete meal and great food combination and contrary to what you read easy to digest
Or kitchari? Aided by spices that are cooling digestants, it's simple to prepare and very easy to digest
Eating Healthy Implies a Return to Nutritional Simplicity
One of the common traits of human nutritional behavior is to develop complexity in almost all facets of life and that includes how we nourish ourselves
Advocates of the Paleo diet stress as the name of the diet implies that we return to the nutritional simplicity of our primordial ancestors
I would go a step further with this and say that when we simplify our nutrition we actually don't stress our digestive systems and make it easier for our systems to process our foods more effectively and efficiently
And this will bring more hamony and balance to our physiologies
Until next time Ciao To health as a Skill Love DrBill
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10 Ways of Observing Ourselves as Biologic Energy
The popular Star Trek TV series introduced us to everyday star travel out in the cosmos and brought us the phrase "Beam me up Scottie" In Avatar unobtanium is a rich source of energy for the inhabitants of biosphere Pandora desired by the invading humans
The world of sci-fi often brings us to encounters with realities that we would never entertain in our current day to day living and this includes glimpses of our bodies as electromagnetic energy fields which the world of sci-fi at times delivers
Is the Biologic Energy Field So Far Fetched?
In talking with patients and friends over the years I have honestly never run across someone who does not believe in a biologic energy field
Belief is one thing but the challenge is how to do understand and experience ourselves as biologic energy fields Everyone has had a sudden shock that occurs when we hit the ulnar nerve transiting around the elbow joint known as hitting our "funny bone" This sensation is electromagnetic energy shooting down the nerve as it passes on the backside of the elbow joint
But we need a vocabulary or a way of talking about ourselves as energy You see, right now we are fixed in this model in which the body is a matter or particle field and traditions such as Ayurveda can give us this much needed vocabulary
The Value of Seeing the Body as an Energy Field
When we entertain that the body is an energy field we can adopt many different forms of healing that we currently don't with conventional matter science medicine today
For example, how could be make the connection between eating late and having bad dreams? Or that banana produces heartburn? Or that psoriasis can be cleared with energy science nutrition? Or that nutrition can reduce PSA and reduce the risk of prostate cancer? Or that the obesity problem can be helped with energy science nutrition?
10 Ways to See Ourselves as Electromagnetic Energy Field
Bodily sensations is the way we get in touch with the energy body When we get in touch with the body's feelings whether good or bad we are in touch with the biologic energy field
1 Observing what our senses tell us
Seems so simple but just reframing the sensation of cold hands is an expression from the biologic energy field
2 Observing symptoms of anxiety or "nervousness"
Since the nervous system of the energy body is represented by electromagnetic energy symptoms of nervousness or anxiety are expressions of the energy body
3 Observing symptoms of GI distress
Symptoms of disease or GI symptoms are expressions of energy disruption, that is heartburn is telling us that the body has too much of the hot quality
4 Seeing money as energy
When we relate to current-cy as an energy expression we can see why so much of it being printed produces excess energy in our physiologies and can lead to energetic imbalance
5 Join a yoga class
Done properly yoga as an exercise program can help us get in touch with sensations of the body that are expressions of the energy body
6 Observing how we feel during certain parts of the day
Do we feel sluggish in the morning? Energized in the afternoon? Sluggish in the evening? These are messages from the body due to its surrounding energy field of the environment
7 What kind of appetite do we have?
If the biologic energy has too much of the hot quality our body will have too strong an appetite that will cause us to overeat
8 Interpret symptoms of disease as messages from the energy body
Often we get in touch with the biologic energy field due to the interruption of the free flow of energy in the body If we don't use our arm because its broken the muscles wither away due to no use If we have too much hot or radiant energy in the GI tract we get diarrhea
9 Using biologic energy fundametals
When we use biologic energy principles and begin feeling better in our day to day living it indirectly shows us that altering our own biologic energy field by adjusting how we do things to our body
10 Explaining common observations
Knowing the energy patterns of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha help us understand why Vata people prefer bass or baritone sounds and Kapha would like soprano or tenors because their energy patterns resonate with different vibrational frequencies
Our biologic energy field is part of the greater energy field and all we have to do is pay attention to it In so doing we can literally get healthier
Until next time To health as a Skill Love DrBill
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5 Ways to Improve Gut Health: Disease Prevention
Well pro- means for and -biotic means a substance that supports life Sounds llke that's something we would want to have Actually probiotics are materials that you can buy at your local grocery store that's a collection of bacteria that improve bowel or gut function
But actually probiotics are one of many ways to improve bowel function which is the sine qua non to health
Why Support Gut Function?
The energy science tradtions such as Ayurveda from the yoga tradition and the traditional Oriental medical tradtion from which we get accupuncture both speak of the importance of strong healthy gut function
In the matter science medical tradition of our currently practiced medical system the gut is a mechanical tube that is not more important than the rest of the body's systems, unless of course you happen to be a gastroenterogist and make your living evaluating and treating problems of the GI tract
But in the energy science the gut is more than a mechanical tube it is the source of all diseases in the body Wow! Now that's an important tube
The GI tract: The Source of All Bodily Disease
The GI tract is body's interface where we take in the outside world It is at this interface where that piece of broccoli from the outside world begins to become your inside world, that is the molecules that become you
So food selection becomes critical for health because if the foods lead to imbalances in the body(too much of the hot quality from too much salsa) then over time this hot quality if taken in too much will lead to unarguable disease such as inflammatory diseases such as cancer, heart disease, acid indigestion/GERD, obesity, and even dementia Now that's a mouthful
Burning Off Mistakes
OK, so how do we help our gut not produce disease? That''s a good question
There are basically two ways
1 Make good nutritional chioices that are best for us
2 Burn off the mistakes that are not good for us by enhancing digestion strength
It is this latter means of gut health that is important for us and that we're talking about today There are essentially 5 simple ways to improve bowel health and digestive strength
Reducing Our Risk for Disease
Let's face it, there will be times when our GI tract is going to receive foods that have the potential of producing minor problems And there are always times when we want to enhance the bowel health(often termed detox in the broad sense)
At times we know that something isn't right because our gut is misbehaving or our appetite is too hot or not strong enough So there is room for doing things that can help to enhance bowel health and hence prevent disease
5 ways to improve gut health
Nutrition based on body's makeup
Avoiding poor food combinations
Use of supporting agent such as algae(Chlorella)
Use of probiotic(kefir, yogurt, pr supplement form) periodically but not all the time
Here's to helping prevent disease Until next time To health as a Skill Love DrBill
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Calming Influence of Nutritional Monotony
Sound too good to be true? Then read on
Personal Experience
Over the years I've experienced different forms of the same food day in and day Some people call it fasting, some would just label it a monodiet
It can be done with juices, fruit, or just a simple vegetable dish that we've written about in the past And it can be done over a few days or weeks or even longer
The point is that it's the same Maybe a different type of fruit or juice based on my mindbody makeup, but it's still fruit or juice maybe the same vegetable dish but a different types of vegetables
Now my personal observation that I've had with this type of fasting or monodiet is that it's not monotonous
Monotony is a Product of the Mind
From an energy science medical view the Vata energy pattern is that of movement Anything that has to do with movement in the physiology is Vata energy and primarily expressed in the nervous system So a turbulent mind is a Vata aggravated mind Too many thoughts to process, too many emotions to deal with, too little time to accomplish everything
To say that always having the same foods all the time is boring is simply an agitated mind
And one of the simplest ways to calm the Vata aggravated mind is monotony Samo samo
Think about it How hectic would life become if you had to look for your toothbrush, purse or wallet, and carkeys everyday? Life would become quickly frenetic and inefficient
Furthermore the mindbody loves habitual living It's comfortable, less stressful And in the end I believe we often eat this way anyway People have their favorite dishes and the routine of eating the same "comfort foods"
Research Supported Nutritional Monotony
Now in the August 2011 American Journal of Nutrition, matter science researchers report on a study where people subjected to the same diets over and over again were observed to consume less calories
And as a opposite to this was a study showing recently that with increased variety at buffets can lead to increased caloric intake!
A matter science observation (measurement of reduced caloric intake) has been made but from an energy science nutritional view the explanation is that this form of monodiet(loosely called fasting here) is Vata pacifying, that is, it creates more physiologic calming which in turns less food intake
Not because it's boring but because the monodiet is calming
Until next time To health as a Skill Love DrBill
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Protein Supplementation Is Out: But Milk Is In
Is this a Wannabe Mustache?
Two matter science nutritional articles have recently come out busting some nutritional myths that if taken seriously would change the athletic food supplementation industry
First, The Bad News ;(
Nutritional researchers at the University of Bath have debunked the notion that protein supplementation is helpful in recovery after workouts What?
How can that be? Protein is important in building muscle and of course and the workout is intended to do just that! Of course the placebo effect for weight lifters to triathletes will probably reign in such a study and call foul but, hey, we just work here
The truth of the matter is that protein supplementation is far overdone and from an energy science view corroborates this matter science nutritional finding I just love it when that happens because it means that this finding is totally meaningful
From an energy science nutritional standpoint using protein supplementation leads to provoking Pitta which is already provoked in this clinical setting
Are You Ready? The Good News 
Kinda
OK, this is going to be hard to hear from athletic circles perhaps but jocks and jockesses would do well to take in some chocolate milk after their workouts
But for me the question is, "What's with the chocolate in the milk?" You know, why spoil Nature's perfect food with chocolate?
Although it's not surprising that milk is a great drink after a physical workout, what doesn't make sense is the addition of the chocolate from an energy science nutritional view
Now here, there is a conflict between the matter and energy science nutritional information and the relevance here is "delete the chocolate" since chocolate isn't good for anyone(sorry chocoholics)
"Yea, but it tastes better that way Besides we get some refined sugar that way"
Besides Milk Isn't Good For YOU?
While we're on the topic, a few comments about milk are in order
One of the rampages we hear these days is that the food that supported us in the first six months of life isn't good for us anymore Mother's or otherwise
Hey, come on Let's quit blaming the foods for why we don't feel well(classic Pitta way of dealing with life) When all else fails blame something or someone
The problem is US and our digestive systems The way we consume milk and our poor digestive fire
Cold milk out of the fridge is not a good idea(ice cubes at Starbucks even worse)
Warming, better yet, steaming the milk to break down the large casein molecules is a good idea
Using spices to aid in the digestion is great idea(chai anyone?)
Drinking milk alone is better than drinking it with cookies(another myth even though tastes better)
Wanna Make A Bet?
Since there's a lot of money on this whole case of protein supplementation be prepared in the next year to see some studies refuting the above
Ah, the American science way!
Ciao, until next time To health as a Skill Love DrBill
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