DIET
What To Eat To Have The Best Prepared Body & Mind For Meditation, Health and Happiness
One of the primary mistakes we make is believing that who we really are is our brain or body or some combination of the two. We have to be careful with this truth, as it is easy to misunderstand: it isn’t to say that we ignore the body.
Some of us have pets. It is our job to be a good guardian to them. If they are sick we take them to the vet. We aren't going to the vet for our self, we do it for the pet and its health and comfort. Our job is to treat the body like it’s our pet. We give it treats, but not too many. We take it to the doctor. We keep it warm and comfortable and active. We need to be vigilant though, as it is easy to become obsessed by our "pet" and lose ourselves in the taking care of the body. We can’t forget this truth that our "pet," our body, isn’t us. The reason we take care of our "pet" is so we can remember who we really are. If we are in pain or uncomfortable, there is no stillness and therefore it is incredibly difficult to access our higher levels of consciousness.
This isn't neglect or annihilation when hear the great masters say that we are something extra to the body. We are talking about the right understanding of our relationship to that which we call our body.
With that caveat, below are some books (out of the many thousands one can find on these topics) on various diets. There are four choices to consider: (1) fasting/cleanses, (2) high fat (ketogenic), (3) plant based (alkaline), and (4) whole grain focused (macrobiotic). All of them have benefits and depending on the person and where they are and how their body is doing, each one is right at certain times. Probably best to spend the time to develop the intuitive capacity sufficiently to know which is right for you when (or find a really good acupuncturist!).
And this post from Dr. Galitzer is worth reading.
Note: All books purchased through these links generate a small fee through the Amazon Affiliates program (at no extra cost to you) that helps support this website.
The Acid-Alkaline Food Guide - Second Edition: A Quick Reference to Foods & Their Efffect on pH Levels Mass Market Paperback – September 2, 2013 by Susan E. Brown (Author), Larry Jr. Trivieri (Author). From Amazon.com: "In the last few years, researchers around the world have increasingly reported the importance of acid-alkaline balance. The Acid-Alkaline Food Guide was designed as an easy-to-follow guide to the most common foods that influence your body’s pH level. Now in its Second Edition, this bestseller has been expanded to include many more domestic and international foods. Updated information also explores (and refutes) the myths about pH balance and diet, and guides the reader to supplements that can help the body achieve a healthy pH level. The Acid-Alkaline Food Guide begins by explaining how the acid-alkaline environment of the body is influenced by foods. It then presents a list of thousands of foods and their acid-alkaline effects. Included are not only single foods, such as fruits and vegetables, but also popular combination and even common fast foods. In each case, you’ll not only discover whether a food is acidifying or alkalizing, but also learn the degree to which that food affects the body. Informative insets guide you in choosing the food that’s right for you. The first book of its kind―now updated and expanded―The Acid-Alkaline Food Guidewill quickly become the resource you turn to at home, in restaurants, and whenever you want to select a food that can help you reach your health and dietary goals."
Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth About Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar - Your Brain's Silent Killers Paperback. January 16, 2014. by David Perlmutter (Author), Kristin Loberg (Author). From Amazon.com: "Renowned neurologist David Perlmutter, MD, blows the lid off a topic that s been buried in medical literature for far too long: carbs are destroying your brain. And not just unhealthy carbs, but even healthy ones like whole grains can cause dementia, ADHD, anxiety, chronic headaches, depression, and much more. Dr. Perlmutter explains what happens when the brain encounters common ingredients in your daily bread and fruit bowls, why your brain thrives on fat and cholesterol, and how you can spur the growth of new brain cells at any age. He offers an in-depth look at how we can take control of our smart genes through specific dietary choices and lifestyle habits, demonstrating how to remedy our most feared maladies without drugs. With a revolutionary thirty-day plan, "Grain Brain" teaches us how we can reprogram our genetic destiny for the better."
The Book of Macrobiotics: The Universal Way of Health, Happiness & Peace Paperback – November 15, 2012, by Michio Kushi. From Amazon.com: "The Book of Macrobiotics is a passport to a world of infinite understanding and adventure. It has been read, reread, studied, and treasured by hundreds of thousands of people who seek a clear, comprehesive approach to the problem of living in a world of endless change. Now after two decades, The Book of Macrobiotics has been completely revised and expanded to reflect refinements in Michio Kushi's teachings, as well as many developments in the modern practice of macrobiotics. During this time, the standard macrobiotic diet has been simplified and broadened. Macrobiotic approaches to cancer, heart disease, and other degenerative disorders have evolved and expanded, as have basic home care and lifestyle recommendations. This revised edition of The Book of Macrobiotics also includes a new chapter on the Spiritual World; new material on Yin and Yang and the Five Transformations, Man/Woman Relations, and Humanity's Origin and Destiny; and an annotated East West Reading List. Many new illustrations have been furnished, and the Food Composition tables have been expanded to include nutritional information on dozens of additional foods, including tempeh, seitan, rice cakes, and amazake.