Most of the people I work with and myself included get stuck eating the same foods and meals every day.
I get it. We have our favorite and easy meals to grab and go. Sometimes, I feel like that hamster I had as a child (well several) who just keeps going around and around on that exercise wheel — eating the same snacks or meals day after day.
But, now science tells us that our health depends on not just eating nourishing foods but also including a diversity of plants in our diet. And, while at times this can seem daunting — it’s not so hard. For example, I love apples as a snack and for years I’ve been eating honey crips. Now, I know that I can add diversity to my diet by eating a different kind of apple (there are so many!). This is not only a great delicious change but it will help my body heal and maintain health. It’s the same as if you do the same exercise for your biceps (or any muscle) — they are not going to change — and get stronger. If you eat the same foods — your body — cells, microbiome, bones, muscles…are not going to change; get healthier and stay well.
So far habit # 15 — Let’s include a new food or type of food into your diet. Just one food or sip is the first step. For example, if we want more iron we can include sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, spinach, oysters and/or dark Chocolate (75% or higher).
There are so many more foods and delicious sips that calm our body and give ourselves the very needed relief from stress. Yet, most grab the cookie or potato chip bag when the going gets tough. OR we overeat pizza and cake when we are celebrating (totally OK in moderation!) If our body could speak words it would yell out: Please stop!
And, though our body can’t speak words, it does talk to us with symptoms; achy joints, brain fog, insomnia, poor digestion to name a few ways the body communicates – help – we need help!
As someone who lives with generalized anxiety, my body speaks to me so I took it upon myself to learn everything I could about what foods and drinks nourish us by calming our nervous system and thus our mind and body. While meditation, exercise, therapy and other healing modalities are important, I kept thinking — there must be ways we can calm our anxiety with food.
It turns out I was right 🙂
I’ve learned that eating foods that support our body’s natural ability to heal is important and detoxing with the right foods is a great way to flush out toxins and start feeling better. When these toxins invade our body they can; lower our immune system, encourage weight gain, increase our chance of cancer and make us more tired. Dioxins are highly toxic and can cause reproductive and developmental problems, damage the immune system, interfere with hormones and cause cancer. Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury cause neurological and kidney damage.
There are SO many powerful foods for us that cleanse and heal us. Here are my favorites – (see below to access full list).
Chlorella: These freshwater algae, native to Taiwan and Japan, have tons of phytonutrients, amino acids, chlorophyll, beta-carotene, potassium, biotin, magnesium, and B vitamins. Specifically, chlorella helps your body expel heavy metals like lead, cadmium, mercury, and uranium.
Spirulina: A cousin of chlorella, this type of algae packs so many nutrients that NASA now sends it into space for astronauts to consume to stay healthy.
Ginger: This familiar root stimulates digestion, circulation, and sweating, which are the body’s three main avenues of natural detoxification! Ginger also helps your body maintain digestive enzymes that are important for keeping issues like gas and bloating at bay.
Leafy Greens: Veggies like spinach, kale, moringa leaf, alfalfa, and parsley should be incorporated into as many of your meals as possible. Not only are these greens packed with vitamins and minerals that play a role in the natural detoxification process, but they’re full of fiber, which makes them slow to digest and good for detoxifying your bowels.
Green Tea: This delicious drink is universally considered a good-for-you beverage. And it’s been used as a medicinal aid for thousands of years. High in antioxidants, it helps keep your body in balance, protecting against free radicals that can cause aging and degenerative disease. Green tea has also frequently been shown to have a protective effect against certain types of cancer.
These are just a few of my favorites! I’ve created a digital gift for you that goes into more detail about how you can cleanse your body with a diversity of calming foods. Reply to this blog for the list or send me an email; christine@soletosoulcoaching.com.
Xo,
Christine