Five Coffee Substitutes
From an energy science nutritional view coffee is not a healthy drink It provokes all three energy patterns, Vata(energy of movement), Pitta(energy of transformation), Kapha(energy of stability)
Due to stimulant effect it provides too much mobility and hence provokes Vata and Pitta and the pungent post digestive effect provokes Pitta The sweetness(heavy, oily, static) usually associated with the drink provokes Kapha
I know this is a debilitating thought for those of us who need our cup of Joe in the morning to get started And so what the heck go ahead and have it
But for those interested in alternatives I thought I would provide some insight into what else is available in the marketplace
These types of substitutes for the "real thing" have a very close taste resemblance to a Starbuck's visit particularly if you happen to have a milk steamer and not adverse to milk as a drink unto itself
Grain coffee are made from an assortment of roots and vegetables(asparagus, beetroot, carrot, sweet potato, rye, etc0
Ayurveda, the energy science medical discipline from the yoga tradition uses a grain blend supported with herbs that are in part antioxidants ashwagandha and shatavari
Chicory
A friend and his wife who I met through medical training were from Louisiana and brought me back to this memory of the taste for this vegetable related to endive and radicchio Chicory is quite common in the deep South and has some great health benefits
Chicory can serve as an ingredient of the above grain coffees and many times is mixed with the "real deal"(coffee)
It can serve as a support for bacterial flora in the gut providing oligosaccharides and inulin which nourish the bowel flora as a prebiotic fibers
From an energy science view it provides the bitter taste which is detoxifying Due to this effect it helps with Kapha and Pitta conditions such as reducing swelling, improving arthritis, and lowering cholesterol
Steamed Milk
If socialization at your local Starbuck's or coffee provider is what you may be looking for, one could get simply steamed milk Using a nonsugar flavor can be a way around "getting the fix"
This is kinda of like a methadone program but will fulfill many different needs that can get met without the caffeine
Strong Kapha energy patterns would have to watch this however since milk carries the sweet taste and will produce weight gain
Tea
As a suprise black tea can have more caffeine than that regular cup of coffee in the morning Again from an energy science nutritional view it's not the caffeine that people affects people but the qualities as discussed above
So warmth of the drink along with the flavor particularly of a herbal blend can be quite nourishing to the physiology
Hot Water - What? Yuck
And yes hot water sipped in the morning hours can be quite beneficial as the mindbody wakes up The mindbody physiology is cool in the am as it wakes from slumber and it's a Kapha time of the day(heavy, cold, static, oily, dense, slow, cloudy)
So perhaps warm or hot water can be a nice pick me up without jolting the system with caffeine
Ciao for now To health as a Skill Love DrBill
Photo courtesy of thepretenda
Read More
Aging and Nutrition
Jeanne Calment holds the title of the eldest senior citizen on the planet who made it to 122 The energy sciences tell us that 120 should be the normal lifespan for us humans
Not surprisingly many of us are not only interested in living long lives but in talking with friends and patients over the years we also want to see productive lives in our later years
The current matter science medical discipline and its research has studied this issue molecularly but from an energy science view this whole thing about aging will defy the contemporary molecular probings
You're Only As Old As You Think You Are
This aphorism that we've heard over the years is born out in what the energy science medical discipline has to say about aging
You see aging actually like any disease process begins in the mind because the body including its genetic information is constantly listening to the mental thoughts that we create
And this is why the molecular answer about aging will not yield an answer to the matter science probing The mind is an energy field not a molecular(matter) field
So if you think you're young, you're probably right
But with these basic premises let's examine what aging looks like in terms of the mind
Rigidity, Inflexibility, and Its Opposite
"I've always done it like this"
Such is another common phrase that we hear ourselves or elders say when confronted with change and brings up the way the mind starts seeing things as it ages
It is of little value to have an old mind in a young body or to renew the body but keep the mind tied to the past and its compulsions In so doing the mind interferes with the energy flow through its field and this leads to stagnant energy, a slugging of the free flow
In fact, we often want to rejuvenate the body and prolong our lives in order to continue the same old mental and emotional patterns that are wearing us out and causing pain to others as well It's completely counterproductive Take a bunch of vitamins and supplements yet continue with the same worn out emotions and patterns of thinking
With age the mind energy field begins to sector choices out, develops rigidity and resistance to change, and develops barriers for newness
This sectoring out of choices occurs because of beliefs, judgements, prejudices, opinions of others, and a host of energetic forces that bring about seeing each day's choices as fresh and new
Clinging To The Past
Being stuck on old outworn memories inhibits freshness and believe it or not is stressful
A friend and I were talking about this topic and he related that there were studies of CEO's who by studies showed more stress the more inflexible they appeared in responding to questionnaires
So having the mind attached to creativeness and newness in experience is actually longevity promoting but also amazingly and paradoxically less stressful not more stressful
Exercising Your Flexible Mind
So my friends flexibility of the mind is key to longevity and living to the ripe old age of 120 years as the energy science predicts
What does this look like?
Experience new ways of doing things like nutrition
Explore not listening or reading mass media(mental junk food)
Consider conscious yogic breathing
Perhaps look at the value of using ghee
Consider using a monodiet of kitchari for a week
And when you see yourself in resistance, RELAX!
What accelerates this process is that as you become more flexible in the mind in adopting new mental habits that are energy science promoting, the body which is intimately spliced with the mind gets the benefit as well It becomes healthier as a result!
Ciao Thinking young To health as a Skill Love DrBill
Photo courtesy of Crocheted
Read More
Loss of Inhibition
NBA playoffs Time to kick back and watch the game Oh, BTW how about a couple of frosties to go along with it
Life is good!
An Observation
OK, the Mavs win and now I notice that I'm hungry Well having had my biggest meal of the day at noon I figure I should be a wee bit hungry at 83o at night
But there was something more about this hunger that I have experienced before after drinking a couple of regular sized beers
Needless to say with no food in the house(wife is out of town) I head to the store to satiate the strong appetite with some chicken, potato chips, and potato salad with some churan
Oh I See What Happened!
Then today this article comes along scanning through AllTop and seems to totally make sense of my experience
The Harvard researchers found that volunteers who hadn't had enough sleep time were more prone to lose prefrontal cortical inhibition of appetite inhibition
Says psychologist Kilgore, "the sleepier you are, the less the prefrontal cortex -- the inhibitory area of the brain -- is activated when it's shown high-calorie foods,"
Oh my gosh, that's what I experienced except it wasn't sleep! It was a couple of frosties just enough to reduce prefrontal inhibition of my primitive midbrain(lizard brain)
But another part of this experience was that there was a strong craving for sweet, salty, and sour tastes Ah fast foods! I was trying to calm down Vata, the energy pattern of movement that was provoked by the bitter beer
Solutions to Loss of Inhibition
Some solutions to this problem of loss of inhibition come to mind
Stop tossing down frosties - not going to happen
Talk to the primitive midbrain and tell it to stop overreacting - slim chance
Meditate - not helpful
Get more sleep - after I eat
Dance the Irish jig to take my mind off things - getting closer but unfortunately will increase my exaggerated Pitta appetite that is raging
Find substitutes for the sweet, sour, and salty tastes - now I'm getting somewhere
Substitution Matters
I don't care who you are if you're human this situation has happened to you
The bottom line is what to do about it when it happens? Realizing the Vata provocation is the first step and then thereafter settling the mindbody with substitutes for the sweet, sour, and salty tastes
For sweet, not chicken and potato salad, try avocado
For sour, not potato chips, try sour fruit, say avocado with lemon or lime
For salty, not potato chips, try sea salt on the avocad0
There You Have It! - An Energy Science Solution To The Uninhibited Hungry Primitive Midbrain
Eureka! Avocado, sea salt and lime
This is the power of energy science nutrition Psychology gave me the problem and I solved it with the energy science A perfect marraige of the matter and energy sciences knowledge!
Now if you'll excuse me I have to run to the store and pick up a few IPA's and some avocados with lime(I have the sea salt at home) Will have to test this out in my laboratory I'll let you know what happens!
Ciao until next time To health as a Skill Love Dr Bill
Read More
Health in LA
Whole Foods has just been taken to another level!! With Pitta provocation in good fun
Until tomorrow Ciao To health as a Skill Love DrBill
Read More
Eyeballs
It's never too late!!! to make lifestyle changes that can change your health
Enjoy as you read about this research story
Eyeballs and Health
Quit smoking, and your eyes will thank you An in-depth study of smoking and eye health in Wisconsin, The Beaver Dam Eye Study, yielded some eye-opening results
Those who quit smoking for at least five years had about the same risk of developing macular degeneration as those who had never smoked at all
In another study, former smokers who had quit at least 10 years earlier had a risk of cataracts 21 to 17 percent lower than those subjects who currently smoked
Stop Listening To the Mind
It's been said that the mind where we encounter thoughts, feelings, emotions, beliefs, and judgements is a pothole of trouble
The reasons for this are many but a couple are salient with respect to health The mind is that part of us that creates errant behaviors that we maintain that we call addictions such as the one to smoking as above
The mind's incessant activity is responsible for anxiety and all the ramifications of such activity
The mind's fear keeps us in the status quo and preventing us from taking on new more productive patterns of health
Healing: "Getting Out of the Way" Said Many Different Ways
What the eyeball story shows us in a behind the scenes way is that if we get out of the way we can acheive increased wellness In this case the addicted let go of the habit and the body searched for balance In this case the eyeballs got better
What's this mean? If we insist that the mind be quiet, we can let go of everything and acheive optimal health This is also called the pathway to least resistance
Another way of saying the same thing is, "If we insist that the mind get out of the way and not interfere with the natural processes of the physical body, healing naturally takes place"
Above all else the body yearns for its natural state of balance Unfortunately our minds mess it up
The Mind Creates Disease
"Why did I get sick doctor?" From the above it's clear we do it to ourselves
This is a very powerful place to be From a position of responsibility we can then move forward without being a victim to deal with our imbalance
Sometimes we need guidance as to what are the best choices to make because we are so laden down with past experiences that cloud our ability to make good healthy choices
Until next time Ciao To health as a Skill Love DrBill
Photo courtesy of cinnamonsugar
Read More
