You really are what you eat

Ok, so I'm re-vamping the blog, keeping the post on meditation because that's always the most important thing. So if I were writing to my grandchildren, on lessons I have learned in this life that I would truly love to pass on to them, the next most important thing would be Diet!

I have to say that is not the greatest word as it has so many negative connotations to most people. I have come to believe that we are totally what we eat and of course what we think. I also believe that all disease, yes all disease comes from the quality, quantity, and types of foods we choose and how we cook it. I believe that eating raw fruits and vegetables is the healthiest diet for humans, these days. I am not 100% raw though I try to eat at least 2 meals a day of organic, if possible uncooked food.

Just look at the people who speak and write about raw food nutrition. Do they walk the walk? Are they in shape? Do they have energy and light in their eyes? Are they accomplishing their goals and creating positive, healthy lifestyles? Now compare them to people eating the S.A.D. (standard amercan diet). Everyday I see and hear people who are sick and tired, have no energy and turn to their doctors and prescription medication to numb their symptoms and help them get through the day and night. Ok, so lets talk about positive change.

Not everyone can change their lifestyle especially food choices overnight. Here is a way to begin. Instead of focusing on what you can't have, choose foods for each meal that are going to give you energy, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Choose the freshest products and then try to eat them in their natural state. There are many websites and recipes for making interesting flavors. The easiest is juicing. I have a Jack La Laine juice extractor and between that and my blender/food processor I can make some amazing drinks. Start off making a green smoothie for breakfast every morning. The most amazing thing will be the energy and the feeling of well being you will get after drinking. Folow up with some nice fresh water to flush your system. Here is one of my favorites:

Spirulina Smoothie

1 apple (seeded)

2 carrots

cucumber

celery

beets

Coconut water

Spirulina powder

Cacao

Some of the veggies need to go in the juicer, some can be added to the blender, but an amzing way to start your day. I will talk about Spirulina later in the week.

Choose wisely, the quality of your life depends on it,

xo MaryCarol

Meditation is the key

I have known about meditation for most of my adult life. My brother taught me on a special vacation we took together and for years I practiced that way. Did it bring me peace back then, I'm not sure, I had a lot of "stuff" to work through and I don't know how bad it would have been if I didn't meditate! Years later I would read every book I could find on it, I even used it as the theme of my final study paper to complete my psychology paper. Not an easy task, btw, as studies on meditation are rarely scientific and mostly biased depending on the group funding the study.

Probably the most I've grown in meditation has come from my yoga practice, which makes sense as I have been a dancer most of my life and I find comfort in movement and stretching. The ability to quiet the mind and plug in to the energy of the universe, God, higher power or whatever you choose to call it, is worth the effort. The effort is actually minimal compared to the time we spend on worry, controlling, manipulating, drinking,eating, shopping or whatever   we do to get through the day.

I think alot of people believe that you have achieve some higher state of being which is just too elusive, or they have to stop their thoughts completely, which is too hard in the beginning.

Let's start by keeping it simple. Breathe. Close your eyes, relax, and breathe. It also helps to sit up straight and find a comfortable spot.Listen to some peaceful music-(I'll give examples later), focus on your breath rising and falling, in and out. If a thought arises, that's ok. Now, lets get back to that breath. As you inhale imagine it's moving up and down your spine. This helps keep you in the moment. No past, its gone. No future, not here yet. Just keep breathing and relaxing. Try this for 5 minutes in the morning and 5 in the evening. We'll increase the time as it gets easier.

This is just the first step. But it's the most important one. It creates an atmosphere for healthy living.Mentally and physically we need to choose good things. It starts here. Breath.

All the Best,

MaryCarol