7 Nutritional Guidelines to Actually Reduce Stress
Although there are internet discussions about stress and nutrition few take an approach of how nutrition can actually help us reduce stress And it may be very surprising to us what the energy science says about what we should do when under stress
The idea here is to use nutrition to calm the mindbody and more effectively deal with our stressor
A Nutritional Molecular View of Dealing With Stress
From a matter science view stress brings us anxiety which is a fear based response to change, whatever that may be Deadlines, moving, marital difficulties, loss of job All these are stressors that the mobilize hormones that help us cope
So it would be very reasonable that we take molecular supplements to fortify the body But this doesn't reduce the stress nutritionally It's adjunctive or supportive
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine(PCRM), a matter science medical organization whose purpose is to rethink our nutritional style of health has talked most specifically about what foods should be emphasized when we are under stress
What is being stated here is that when under stress we should be aware of the fact that certain "comfort foods" will be used in lieu of healthy foods
Energy Science Biological View of Stress
The Ayurvedic energy science biological paradigm of Vata(V) Pitta(P) Kapha(K) can help us understand how different people respond differently under stress PK for example can do somewhat well with stressful situations but if they are stressed they look for comfort foods Stress equals things going in the mouth
PV people are those that can be significantly and adversely effected by stressors due to the mobile quality that produces a disrupting influence on the mindbody And the more Vata aggravated they are the more help they need
Nutrition To Calm the Mindbody Physiology: 7 Suggestions
So the Vata aggravation needs to be dealt with in order to calm the mindbody physiology One of the first and most profound things to do is:
1 Don't eat if you're not hungry This will be easy for PV and not so easy for PK since as we said earlier these people will look for comfort foods that as the PCRM reports are not usually healthy choices Particularly don't eat if the tongue has a coating on it after scraping int the morning
2 If eating, don't overeat Again not such a problem for PV but one for PK
3 Follow energy science nutritional formats according to one's mindbody energy physiology
4 Consider nutritional monotony, that is, the same type of foods during the stressful times
5 Eat slowly and not on the run Practice nutritional awareness when eating If you can't do this then don't eat
6 Eat easily digestible foods such as kitchari since the digestive fire is also under stress and reduced
7 Consider the liberal use of spices to aid the digestive fire
Energy science nutrition is offers so much more to our lifestyle behavior patterns that occur with stress than the molecular approach Try a few of the suggestions the next time you're under stress or better yet practice these guidelines so that when the next big stressor occurs(and most assuredly it will be coming your way), you'll be prepared!!
Until next time Ciao To health as a Skill Love DrBill
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Parkinson’s Disease Prevention: Energy Science Recommendations
A recent Mayo clinic posting regarding genetic research on familial Parkinson's disease brought about some interesting food for thought about genetic causation
It seems that multiple genes implicated in the disease but this genetic change governs protective proteins which are not made due to a mutation of the EIF4G1 gene
Genetic Plasticity and Genetic Misbehavior
Familial or sporadic Parkinson's disease from a genetic perspective seem to have the same genetic expression If there are a lot of genes affected then the clinical effect is Parkinson's If many are already turned on/off the familial pattern gets expressed
But these findings are not suprising There are now numerous reports now that the human genome project is well underway showing the expression of disease
For example it has been shown that parents undergoing stress impact their children's genetic expression Obesity genes are affected by exercise Men with prostate cancer in a watchful waiting protocol stabilze their PSA's, increase Tcell killer counts and change genetic expression in 400 genes simply by changing lifestyle behaviors
So the good news is that lifestyle can impact any genetic misbehavior
Stress Leads to Genetic Mutation
In the above study stress led to the death of cells in the primitive midbrain from the mutation
The issue then among other prevention therapies is how to deal with stress There are a number of different ways to change lifestyle behavior For example:
Meditation practice
Yoga practice
Mindfulness or awareness of reacting to people, situations, circumstances, and things
Prevention Therapies Are Already Available
In the reporting Owen Ross, PhD, a neuroscientist and co-author on the paper added, "The insights gained from how mutations in EIF4G1 lead to cell death might help us develop new therapies to treat or slow Parkinson's disease."
The "new therapies" that Dr Ross has in mind are more than likely matter or molecular science interventions such as new drug therapies which no doubt be exceedingly expensive and long in coming
The issue is this "Why wait?" Prevention is something that patients with known predisposition can do right now Since Parkinson's disease is a Vata imbalance, the above are starters that can help calm Vata but there are more from an energy science view:
Eat according to one's mindbody energy makeup
The new field of genetic medical research has taught us a very important lesson That we are indeed in control of our health destiny And the tools are available to us through the energy science of Ayurveda to help us do just that
Ciao Until next time To health as a Skill Love DrBill
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Dr Oz and The Blood Diet: An Energy Science View
Dr Oz, the popular commentator on current medical news and research, recently had comments on the so called "blood diet" which thrilled the partisan followers of the diet In an interview Dr. Oz said it makes sense that your ancestors diet could be better for you, but we can’t prove it, but sometimes you can’t prove things except in people’s kitchens
Peter D'Adamo, a naturopath,, in 1996 introduced his Eating Right For Your Blood Type after his father had researched in his own patient population that there seemed to be connections between patient's food selection, their blood types, and sense of wellbeing and health
A Secret: What the Blood Diet Really Tells Us
In all the commentaries I've read about the "blood diet" I have yet to come across someone discussing the uniqueness of this dietary approach
In all the antecedent "diets" that we have been regaled with over the last 50 years we have always been told which foods not to eat and those that we can eat, from Jenny Craig to the South Beach to the Paleo to the vegetarian Forks over Knives approach
But let's think about this The "blood diet" has for the first time in the history of diet domaindom created a concept that says that foods should be selected according to what biological physiology is eating it That seems to make intuitively good sense!
In this case the "blood diet" says that we will feel and do better if we eat foods are favored by way of our blood type
Comparing Energy Science Nutrition With the Blood Diet
In the Ayurvedic Institute's quarterly newsletter a comparision was made between the D'Adamo's "blood diet" approach and the VPK nutritional format by a naturopath who had attended the Institute's program and had incorporated Ayurveda into his scope of practice
What he found was that there seemed to be a very close fit with the blood diet and the energy science nutritional formal but because of the nuances of the Ayurvedic format felt that the energy science approach worked better
Not everything grown on the planet is fair game
"If I want 2 bowls of ice cream a night then by God I'm going to have it I dont care whether it bothers my health or not because I make the choices here So don't tell me what to do, OK?"
There is nothing wrong with the (blood) diet says Dr. Adrienne Youdim, her only criticism is that perhaps it’s too restrictive
We all want our freedom and don't want that freedom to choose restricted in any way But with that freedom comes a consequence for we don't get to choose the results of our choices
With the "blood diet" has come a subtle message that we should limit our choices according to our biological physiologies This has been the message of the energy sciences for thousands of years
For our contemporary planetary societies it's the primary out of our serious chronic medical problems
The Value of Energy Science Nutrition
Not only do the energy science nutritional formats give us guidance as to which foods produce balance in our physiologies but there is another dimension not even discussed in contemporary nutritional literature
This nutritonal format comes as part of a complete package for living a healthy lifestyle since nutrition is part of the whole package
We can no longer isolate foods and their physiologic consequences apart from the quality of our sleep, work, and exercise Nutrition comes as part of the whole enchilada, so to speak
And is intimately spliced with bowel pattern, stamina, endurance, and sense of wellbeing
Until next time Ciao To health as a Skill Love DrBill
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The Difficult Morning Wakeup: An Energy Science Fix
"Why do I keep setting the alarm if I'm not going to get up?"
That's a good question and there's some conjecture about how to deal with this Kapha period of the day
Early Morning: Qualities of Kapha Time
The time between 6a and 10a is a Kapha period and has the qualities of slow, heavy, cloudy, cold, and static Our bodies being part of Nature also experience these same qualities
Is it any wonder that we don't like getting up in the morning?
This relatively inert period of the day can be overcome by MOVEment It may take some discipline to shut off the mind that insists that the snooze button is a survival tool but in the end we need that Pitta transformational energy to help change the situation
We're Not All Created Equal
We should remember that we have varying levels sleep needs based on our dominant energy makeup and these need to be respected
While Kapha can get by with 6 hours of sleep, Vata may require 7 to 8 hours of sleep(Pitta dominant somewhere in between) based on demand so recommendations for amount of sleep should be taken into this consideration
Exercise programs can be draining on the physiology requiring especially in the beginning more rest for the body Respect the body's rest requirements as more may be needed until the body is in better shape
Trouble with excessive sleep implies poor energy particularly for VP or PV(Pitta Vata) Often times this can be addressed by paying attention over time to eating according to our body's energy makeup
Energy Science Solutions
Try to move toward getting up before the Kapha period begins, ie at or before 6a
"Early to bed, early to rise" Avoid going to bed late Lights out by 10p for Vata and 11p for Kapha It's been shown that even when lying awake we are resting But make a deal that always up at the same time By and by a new sleep cylce will be established
Get up at a prearranged time without hesitation(remember MOVE) Don't let mental jargon to lull you back to bed
Stimulate and energize the body(remember MOVE) After out of bed do a three part warm up breath with 1 arms out in front with breath in 2 arms extended out horizontal with the shoulders with another breath in 3 arms overhead with breath in 4 forceful exhalation done with a loud HA(do this in the other room if your spouse is sleeping) with the arms brought down along the sides
Make the bed if you're the last one out
Develop a morning routine 7 splashes of cold water on the face with the eyes open
Resist taking naps during the day
Healthy nutrition with a strong digestive fire will over time will begin reducing physiologic stagnant energy
Life WITHOUT the Alarm
This may sound preposteous but as we become in sync with Nature alarms will become unnecessary
It is very natural for the body to wake up on its on accord as the above process unfolds
Until next time Ciao To health as a Skill Love DrBill
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The Full Figured Woman And Childhood Obesity
]From Oprah to Beyonce the idea of the full figured woman is a classic biologic energy descriptive of the beauty of the Kapha energy pattern with the grace and elegance in full display
But how is this related to childhood obesity?
The Full Figured Woman
Such a descriptive conjures up the round curvaceous voluptuous lines of womanhood The physical beauty of the feminine body
The energy science model of Ayurveda reveres this energy pattern for its strength, beauty, endurance, grace and stamina Appropriately described as the queen of the three enerygy patterns amongst Vata and Pitta
Not only is there physical beauty but the smooth and soft qualities lead to the psychological characteristics that produce mental calmness that delivers the attributes of care giving which includes many professions that the feminine energy participates such as medicine, nursing, and social service among others
But the most important of all the care giving professions is motherhood and here Kapha as an energy pattern is like the bright star in the heavens
And it's this Kapha energy that is so tirelessly working toward preventing childhood obesity
High Tech Society and Too Much Movement
Technology has delivered great benefits to us High speed internet has revolutionized how we shop, do business, and yes, even how we learn It has led to increasing our capacity to do things and improve our quality of life
But........ there is a downside to such technology
Currently there has become an excessive mobility quality in our culture People and their minds cannot move fast enough We have to get things done today as if they should have been done yesterday With this fever pitch rushing there is a consistent reminder for us "to slow down" or "breathe"
But unfortunately it's not as easy energetically when we live in a resonating environment of faster especially as it now is played out in almost every aspect of the human condition
As we have written in the past it's not so bad to want to accomplish things and move on but it's the balance between mobile and static, activity and inactivity that needs to be cultivated
Fast Foods are Born
Although not thought of in terms of foods, nutrition is an extraordinary and convenient way to self medicate A society that is movement aggravated will tend to look for foods that calm the increased speed in human activity
So literally "fast foods" are for foods for people living in a fast paced resonating environment The term "fast food" has been used to denote convenience and easy accessibility but from an energy science view it means much more It implies medication
The Full Bodied Woman in a Vata Aggravated Society
But this Beyonce video done for childhood obesity gives us only half the solution for the Kapha imbalance not only in our full bodied woman but in our children
The other part of the solution is to recognize that placing our pleasing, gracious full bodied woman in such a frenzied culture will inevitably lead to struggles with obesity in all Kapha predisposed ladies Eventually the resonating energetic factor of excess movement(Vata aggravation) leads to energetic imbalance
The societal impact of our nutritional self medication for the increased pace of human lifestyle is the overweight condition
So the most beautiful aspect of human life becomes impacted due to our societal need to nutritionally slow ourselves down with the tastes that lead to Kapha weight gain
And this is occurring in our children at an unprecendented rate
Our Venus is lost But now even Venus' children How sad!
Gratefully the energy science medical model has a solution
Until next time To health as a Skill Love Dr Bill
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Balance in Life How to Achieve It: An Ayurvedic View
Don't smoke too much, drink too much, eat too much, or work too much We're all on the road to the grave, but there's no need to be in the passing lane Robert Orsen
Another way of saying the above is to seek balance in life Particularly now in a Vata aggravated society we live in do we need more than ever some help in this respect
The tricky thing about this concept is that there are not many guidelines as to how to acheive this happy median
Healthy Lifestyle: An Energy Science View
The energy science approach can be very helpful for as we go forward into the 21st century by giving us personal help in looking for guidelines as they revolve around healthy lifestyle From an energy science medical model view balance is where it's at So if we're looking for balance this is the discipline that can help us
I think we could agree that smoking or drinking is not conducive to a healthy lifestyle but occasional beer or wine is not going to be detrimental But who's doing the drinking? The energy science guidelines for alcohol would be:
Hard alcohol is not good for anyone
For beer dry white and red wine twice a week
Eating too much is the bane of human existence right now The energy science guidelines can help us quite a bit here:
Biggest meal of the day should be at noon
At noon eat the volume of what you can hold in our 2 hands that are cupped together(picking out a rice bowl that comfortably fills our two hands is a great visual to help give us
Avoid heavy morning meals
The evening meal should always be smaller than the noon meal
Of course using balancing food guidelines that can be serve to balance the body and digestive system
Work Balance
I think this is the most difficult of wanting to be in the middle of the road But the energy science gives us some healthy guidelines here:
Make close relationships important and nourish them
Do two things every day for self nourishment
Early to bed In general lights out by 10:30pm This allows the nest step
Out of bed by 5:00 to 6:00am This allows the next step
Exercise 30 to 60 minutes every day dependent on Ayurvedic body makeup
Take a mandatory week off every 2 months to reassess
Now the time spent for work can be put into place It's only when we build our day around work rather than building our work around the day that we can hope to begin to achieve balance
Balance Is Health Promoting
There is a shift in our thinking regarding health and it revolves around this concept of balance
The energy science discipline can help us with this poorly understood human biological concept
And balance lies at the heart of disease prevention
Until next time Blessings To health as a Skill Love DrBill
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