Eat Consciously. Lose Weight. Get Healthy.

For the most part people in the United States eat on the run, talking, walking, while still working, preparing the meal itself, arguing, debating or worrying. In those instances even the best foods will not digest well. A lot of those habits come from childhood. The example we see set in childhood is usually what we practice unless we catch on to some better way to perform.

We know that the human body is energy, something like 99.999 formless and the rest is apparent form. When we choose food it should be chosen with that in mind; find foods that are alive with energy; eat them with consciousness and be grateful that our bodies can incorporate the energy of the foods we are eating. Thats why food ingested with a blessing or giving of thanks goes down so much better than foods gobbled down.

Although meals are usually is a social time, the time can be planned as quiet, relaxing and mutually supportive. The dinner table is not the time for interrogation or reprimand. The more relaxing the meal, the more true interest and love shown around the table, the better the digestion will be for children for their lifetime.

Foods easily ingested by one child cause allergic reactions in their sibling. This one fact alone is cause for arguments at meal time in many homes. Food preferences involve more than being a picky or a good eater, it involves blood types and what is termed in Eastern Indian Cultures dosha types. Every person is unique and varied in what they are designed to digest really well.

So how does all of this relate to losing weight and being healthy? Foods not digested take more energy to move through the system than they lend to building the body. Foods not fully digested, move through the body slowly, use up precious energy, putrefy in the stomach and small intestine, and over years, line the colon walls. Over the years allergies come on board as well as pounds. A t this point it takes concentrated and disciplined effort to change the tides, that is lose weight and feel better about self.

Can it be done? Absolutely, you can gather all your forces and go for live foods, drink pure water, and plan meals to have the body and a life to match that youve only dreamed of. But exactly how hard will it be? Will you have to starve, do without food or perhaps never have coffee or wine? Oh please, that would be awful. Lets talk balance

Youll never have to starve, maybe eat smaller and more consciously arranged meals, get a juicer and perhaps eat 75% raw or lightly cooked foods. There are thousands of sweetener choices but rather than choose white sugar or a toxic substitute you may learn to like Stevia or honey. Before you drink that first cup of coffee in the morning you can drink one or two full glasses of water with fresh organic lemon squeezed into it. You’ll look for and give yourself leverage.

Conscious food choices, gratitude, relaxing meals and pure water all lend to the health and radiant look we feel good wearing, no matter what age we are. Every choice for health and more discipline will empower you in every aspect of life. Every self-enhancing choice will also add to the environment and give a great example to the next generation. You will have the mind and body you want at all stages in your life. That’s really healthy aging.

Eat Consciously, Live Better, Ellen Valentine, CNC