Eating all the superfoods in world won’t guarantee that you’ll jump out of bed in the morning, full of energy and bounce off the walls with vitality for the rest of the day. My top 5 non-food tips for maximizing your vitality: 1. Sleep, 2. Water , 3. Laughter , 4. Self-care , 5. Movement.
As a vegetarian yoga practitioner one of my main dietary concerns has always been about getting enough protein. Whilst the majority of people eating a typical western, meat-eating diet need not worry about a lack of protein (quite the opposite, in fact), vegetarians or vegans need to be a bit more mindful. But there are many vegan athletes out there who prove that meat isn’t necessarily the answer. Protein deficiency can show up in a few ways. One common way,…
And I’m not just saying that because I’m Irish! Greens in every form are so nutrient rich, you’re instantly on to a winner by adding more of them into your diet. Dark leafy greens in particular. You cannot eat enough of them, unless that’s all your eating of course. Don’t go too wild! Eat a wide variety.
Ideal for lunch or a snack, these parcels are protein-packed, loaded with good fats, fibre, vitamins and minerals, filling and ridiculously easy to make. Nori (the edible seaweed used to make sushi) is one of the plant world’s richest sources of protein while also high in fibre, iron and iodine. Leafy greens are full of vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants.
Our bodies are made up of between 60-75% water and we wouldn’t survive more than a week without it. As they say – water is life. Most people know it’s important yet many are chronically dehydrated and don’t even realize it. So how do you know if you are drinking enough?
Like many things it depends on the individual and a number of key factors such as body type, climate, level of physical activity and current health.
If you’re trying to determine what’s causing you to feel a bit ‘off’ and suspect food intolerances, then a simple elimination diet can do the trick. For severe symptoms a food allergy test is recommended. But for milder symptoms like fatigue, low immune system, headaches, skin issues, constipation or bloating then the elimination diet is one effective and easy method for finding out if they are food related.
Funny isn’t it, that when you go to the doctor you’re putting your body, that YOU feed, water and take care of day in, day out, into the hands of a stranger who, over the course of 15 minutes, diagnoses a few symptoms, runs a few tests, tells you what is wrong, and then prescribes medicine to fix it? Who is the expert here?
This is not an anti-raw food rant – just to clarify! I simply want to look at the big picture when it comes to raw vs. cooked food. The way I see it is that many of us grew up eating mostly cooked food and I know I will probably continue to eat cooked for the rest of my life, not because raw is ‘just a craze’ but because it feels natural for me.
Recognizing the fact that we’re all unique in terms of our body types, stages of life, issues going on with our health, climates we live in and foods we eat daily – it makes sense then to approach detoxing in a way that takes these factors into consideration.
I would like to present this piece in the spirit of compassion, co-operation and communication. My thanks to Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Sharat Jois and all teachers who have developed this practice and helped me along this path. The purpose of writing is to encourage debate and dialogue amongst practitioners.