ENCOMPASSING MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT
- Ulla Jacobs
- Jan 28
- 2 min read
A follow up to my first article has me sharing some steps I took to clean up my diet.
I eliminated all the “whites” — flour, rice, sugar and bread products — for three reasons:
These highly processed products are denatured, having been stripped of most beneficial nutrients.
The whites, registering high on the glycemic index, elevate sugar levels in the bloodstream.
The body, in an attempt to remove them from the system, will use up valuable vitamins and minerals to accomplish this task.
You asked, “What alternatives are available?”
Many of the items are now in supermarkets; all are available in health food stores.
For sweeteners:
I use unpasteurized honey (contraindicated for babies), pure maple syrup and whole cane sugar (Sucanat, also a fair trade product).
Brown rice:
Comes in many varieties such as short and long grain, basmati and jasmine. It takes longer to cook, but has much more flavor and packs a punch nutritionally.
Milk alternatives:
Come in the form of soy, rice and coconut milks.
Spelt:
Has become my favorite flour to use in bread and all other baking. It is an ancient grain, unlike wheat, which is a hybrid. I made the switch to spelt after reading Eat Right 4 Your Type by Peter D’Adamo, where foods are listed as highly beneficial, neutral and no-nos for each blood type.
I tried this diet for three months, avoiding things in the no-no column.
During a visit I made to the acupuncturist, he asked me what I had done differently since my last visit. I explained the diet and duration of the trial. A pulse test revealed that all my major organs had settled down.
They were at peace. Interesting.
While I found this way of eating a bit too restrictive, I was aware of its merits. A system in crisis could certainly benefit from foods that work well with the body, easing further stress.
A good way to cleanse the body:
Is to work with the natural rhythm by eating only fresh fruit in the morning, until lunch. The digestion gets a rest, as the fresh fruit is absorbed within 20–30 minutes, allowing for a flushing action.
One of my favorites is a cantaloupe shake.
Peel and deseed a cantaloupe and cut into chunks. Place in the blender and process. Provided the melon is ripe, the mixture will become light and frothy — delicious.
The trick with any melon is to eat it alone or leave it alone. Melons don’t interact well with other foods. Anyone with sugar metabolism irregularities, such as diabetes, should use caution.
We have all heard the phrase, “You are what you eat.”
Years ago, in line at the supermarket, the woman ahead of me proceeded to fill the counter with beautiful, fresh fruit. She bought pineapples, grapes, kiwi, apples, peaches and melons, and nothing else. I looked at her and immediately made the connection. She had the most vibrant, beautifully alive skin.
Food intake, while important to maintaining health, is not the only component.
A holistic approach encompasses mind, body and spirit working in tandem.
By Ulla Jacobs . First Published in Island Gals Magazine . 2011 . Volume 1 . Issue 2
