Making The Shift To Conscious Eating

Wow – What a week!   I want to share with  you one of the most enlightening experiences I’ve had in a long time.  I presented  a seminar to a large group of patients at a Wellness and Chiropractic Clinic. My Seminar is “You Are What You Eat – Good Food For Thought”.  This large practice sees hundreds of  patients a week and focuses on healing the body – not just treating the symptoms.  I totally embrace this kind of healing along with acupuncture and other alternative therapies.   These doctors are truly dedicated in helping their patients acheive optimum health and realize that nutrition plays a big role.  One of the doctor’s comments to me, “I want my patients to realize that good nutrition does not come in a pill”.   They do sell a lot of supplements, but would be ecstatic if their patients would just start eating for health.

I was a little shocked at the “body and diet” disconnect this group had.  But I totally understand why.

Here are some of the questions I asked of this class and their revealing answers:

First Question: “The USDA says to limit your consumption of saturated fat, cholesterol and “solid fat”.  How many in this room know where these bad fats come from?  One person raised their hand.   These people are not dumb! The USDA does not explain this code language for very good reason.  The bad stuff comes from animals and the meat and dairy industries receive the majority of our subsidy dollars.   So on one hand they tell you to limit these things, but don’t make it clear what they are  and where they come from.   The USDA shows milk as food group on the MyPlate Chart (more animal protein and saturated fat), which insures that most Americans will consume too much of the very thing the government tells us to restrict.  It’s no wonder America is sick and fat.

Second Question:  Where does quality protein come from – unanimous answer – meat!  In this country plant protein is considered inferior or not considered as protein at all.

Third question:  Are humans carnivores or omnivores.  I was happy to see a majority knew the answer to this question, however, knowing that answer hasn’t changed how they view meat.  Advertising is powerful!

Other observations:  The USDA recommends you consume half of your grains from whole sources.  What about the other half.  Anything but whole is processed and nutritionally bankrupt.  Why don’t they just say – eat whole grains?

I would like to share with you just a few quotes from doctors involved in “Forks Over Knives” (Don’t quote me verbatim – but this is the general gist).

My favorite goes something like this, “Some will say that eating a plant-based diet is extreme.  Having your chest cracked open, veins stripped from your leg and placed in your heart seems pretty extreme! “ (My twin brother almost died from this surgery 6 years ago and it didn’t solve his problem).

“The amount of grain fed to the animals we slaughter to feed America (the very diet that’s killing us) could feed the whole world and end starvation”. 

“The only species over weight on our planet are humans, cats and dogs” –  Dr. Doug Lisle.   What’s the common denominator?

From Peta – “Do you salivate when you see road kill?”  We are not carnivores.  We are omnivores and adapt to whatever food source is available.  I think everyone will agree there is no limit to the variety and choices in this country.

Bottom line:  It’s not your lack of will power, your stress level, or your bad childhood that’s making you fat.   Our country is one of the few where the poor are obese.  It’s our animal based, processed, nutrient bankrupt food sources that are making us fat and sick.  Why is it so hard to make the connection between the chronic disease in this country and our diet? Because you don’t have the truth – but that’s changing……fast!

You don’t need to be the “Biggest Loser”.  You don’t have to torture yourself with strenuous exercise or starve!  Weight loss is simple.  Even small changes can make a huge difference.  It’s 90% what you put in your mouth.

What if you could eat as much as you wanted and lose weight and never, ever  have to worry about gaining it back.   Does that seem like a pipe dream?   Well it’s not.  It’s as simple as eating more whole, unrefined, plant-based foods from the good earth as God intended.

My challenge to you this month is to watch “Forks Over Knives” and Dr. Lisle on YouTube (FREE) “How to Lose Weight Without Losing Your Mind”.  It’s about 75 minutes long and well worth it.  Lose the guilt trip – this video will release you!

We can end the “Health Care Crisis” in this country without the politicians.  Supply and demand still works in our free enterprise society.

“DEMAND GOOD, CLEAN FOOD and THE BAD FOOD WILL DISAPPEAR!  Good food for thought……

Okay – Here’s the recipe everyone is asking for:

Indian Spiced Black Bean Chili with Jewel Yams

 Ingredients for Step 1:

1 stalk celery  finely chopped

1 onion finely chopped

2-3 cloves of garlic minced

1 bell pepper or poblano finely chopped

3 tbsp coconut oil

1 bay leaf crumbled

Dash of salt

Ingredients for Step 2:

1 ½ tbsp. chili powder (or to taste)

1 tsp ground cumin or ½ tsp seeds)

½ tsp chipotle chili powder or 1 fresh chili (optional)

1 tsp smoked paprika

¼ tsp coriander powder

¼ tsp turmeric

¼  tsp fenugreek seeds (optional)

1 tsp ginger minced

Ingredients for Step 3:

1 large sweet potato diced

3 cups black beans (fresh cooked or canned rinsed)

1 – 15 oz. can of tomatoes and juice (or fresh)

2 cups of water or “Better Than Bouillon” vegetable broth prepared

2 tbsp black strap unsulfured molasses

1 tbsp Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar

Ingredients for Step 4:

Add water if needed

¼ cup fresh cilantro (reserve some for garnish)

1 tbsp fresh lime or lemon juice

2 tbsp dark miso dissolved (dissolved)

1. In large sauce pan, heat coconut oil to med to med high.  Add onions, celery, bell pepper, garlic (in that order) and sauté for a few minutes until onions are translucent.
2.  Add spices and bay leaf, stirring frequently to toast for a minute or so until fragrant.
3. Stir in sweet potatoes, beans, tomatoes, molasses, vinegar, and water or broth.  Cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes, until sweet potatoes are fork tender.
4. Stir in fresh cilantro and lemon juice, and more water if necessary.  Simmer for another 10 minutes.  Add dissolved miso to soup and blend well.  Add salt and cracked pepper to taste.  (Note – you probably will not need salt)

Garnish with fresh cilantro, or for vegetarian option add a dollop of sour cream or shredded cheddar.

Note:  If you don’t have all the spices – it’s OK.  You can use a Chili Seasoning mix.   However, the spices add a whole new dimension to this staple vegan dish.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“Health is inner peace.  Healing is letting go of fear.  To make changing the body our goal is to fail to recognize that our single goal is peace of mind” – Gerald G. Jampolsky M.D. from his book Teach only Love.