Living Gluten/Dairy Free

You will find on this page: 

 

• An introduction to eating gluten and dairy free
• Transition foods – including ideas for substituting milk, and ideas for breakfasts, lunches and dinners.
• Esoteric (innermost) nutrition
• Esoteric food preparation
• Foods that heal vs foods that harm
• Cleansing & rebuilding ‘True Vitality’
• Super-foods
• Other influences on ‘True Vitality’
• Calcium rich foods - links to a post – not on this page
• Gluten Free /Dairy Free survival guide - links to another site – not on this page
• How to have more ‘True Vitality’ – links to another post – not on this page
• Recipes – for gluten and dairy free recipes click here or on the recipe tab above

An introduction

Practicing as a naturopath I would often suggest that people try omitting gluten foods from their diet and most of the time they found an improvement in their health and energy levels. On and off I would do the same. I would go three months without gluten to see how I would feel and also to see if it would have any effect on my weight. At the time it seemed to have little effect if I ate gluten or not.

Also at that time I wasn’t aware that there was gluten hidden in foods, so in fact I was never completely off gluten and so I wasn’t really able to gauge the effect fully. I discovered later that unless you are 100% off gluten you body doesn’t detox from it. So it’s as though you are still eating it.

 When I became involved with Universal Medicine the topic of gluten came up again. This time with clairsentience (true feeling) I knew I had to eliminate gluten from my diet completely.

 I had a history of fatigue and weight issues for many years and had worked on the emotional aspects of giving away my energy, but the diet was the place I found that I could instantly feel a difference in my energy levels. I would often feel tired after a meal, but thought that this was just how it was.

 Universal medicine has helped me understand the esoteric side of how certain foods such as starchy foods will dull your light and make you feel gluggy and sluggish and tired as well as not allow you to feel clearly (be clairsentient) the foods which are right for you. Gluten and dairy seem to be the main foods that have this effect. Dairy isn’t a starch, but would have a dulling effect on feeling clearly also. Dairy is difficult to digest and so it seems that the one common thread is in how difficult something is to digest determines how heavy that food will make you feel, hence dulling your energy and your ability to feel clearly.

 But I also discovered another factor and that was with the effect of cooked foods and how cooking foods elevate your white blood cell count. This means that the body thinks that there is a foreign invasion when we eat these foods. When cooked and raw foods are eaten together the rise in white blood cells isn’t as dramatic. I actually discovered this theory after realising that raw foods felt better for my body by participating in a raw food preparation class and then eating this way. Not all of my diet is raw but I do try to incorporate as much fresh raw foods as possible each day. I feel that the fresher something is (which usually means raw), the easier to digest and the lighter and brighter I feel. (Note – some foods are energetically better when cooked)

This started my discovery of how to make raw foods interesting as well as yummy, but still with the right feel to it. In the past I have enjoyed the art of gourmet cooking as well as simple foods that are cooked with love and presented nicely. I have always understood the effect that emotions can have on the food that is prepared, whether it is cooked or raw, just as eating when you are emotional can and does always affect digestion.

Being emotional, rushing about, eating quickly, being stressed, all puts the body’s nervous system into sympathetic overdrive, whereas the body can only digest if it is in parasympathetic mode which is what we are in when we are connected to the gentle breath, relaxed and still.

It is with this knowing that I have put together a range of gluten free, cane sugar free, dairy free raw and cooked foods that can be enjoyed by the whole family as they are or as accompaniments to other foods. Before we look at these, let’s take a minute to look at transition foods.

Transition foods

Going from processed wheat and dairy products to a totally healthy diet of no processed foods can be a shock to the family, especially to the kids. A simple place to start is to substitute wheat and gluten grain breads and pastas to the gluten free variety. There are many very tasty rice and corn breads, crackers and pastas available on the market now. Sauce mixes and condiments can be found gluten free in most supermarkets now. It’s just a matter of reading the labels to find the ones that suit you and your family. Once you have done this you will automatically know which ones to buy so the shopping trip doesn’t always have to be a long one.

 Milk for cereals, drinks and shakes can be substituted with soy or rice milk. Also any nut, grain and seed can be made into milk.  Almond milk is the most popular, but you can also make milk from hazelnuts, cashews and quinoa. Cheeses and ice-creams can be found made with soy. Ice-cream is also great made from frozen fresh fruit that is put through a good quality juicer that is not a centrifugal type.

 Breakfast and lunches seem to be the hardest to substitute if the family is used to having toast or cereal. As mentioned above there are gluten free breads and cereals available for breakfasts, but you can also break free from habits and try something different. Fresh fruit with a sprinkle of whole or ground nuts and seeds are tasty and nutritious. Eggs cooked in numerous fashions including thin pancake style eggs with a filling of mushrooms, tomatoes or mixed veggies make a welcome change as do pancakes made from buckwheat flour. Or for a quick breaky why not mix up a smoothie with almond milk and your favourite fruit. Smoothies are a great way to get extra nutrients thrown in by mixing with the other ingredients. Porridge made from quinoa or rice or both mixed with dried fruit to sweeten and topped with almond milk is a warm start on a cold day. Super-foods such as spirulina, bee pollen, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds are great blended into the nut milk and fruit base. Quick and easy with a boost to get you or the kids through till lunchtime.

 Lunch time can see the use of freshly baked gluten free bread, or corn or rice crackers with the usual fillings that the family likes. Salad wraps using lettuce leaves or mustard leaves are great for lunches at home. Whereas rice paper wraps and gluten free wraps are good for lunchboxes. Don’t forget that a lunch pack of gluten free pasta with tuna or salmon is still a favourite to many. Crackers and dips are also good for variety and can be served also with carrot and celery sticks or pieces of apple.

 Dinners give a bigger range of foods to choose from. If you eat meats, then traditional meat (including fish, seafood, red meat and chicken) and vegetable dinners are perfect. Seasonings are plentiful in the gluten free variety these days. Stuffing vegetables with a variety of things such as pork mince, prawns or grated seasoned vegetables into zucchinis, eggplant, capsicum and potatoes are very popular. Soups, stews, casseroles, roasts, curries and risottos can still be a favourite for the family dinner. To expand your repertoires of recipes try using the many cook books available and either choose ones that don’t use dairy and gluten products or substitute using the following as a guide.

 Milk – almond milk, soy milk, rice milk or coconut milk

Butter – nuttlelex spread, margarine or oil

Soy sauce – wheat free tamari

Cheese – difficult to substitute even with soy so best to avoid these recipes

Breadcrumbs – gluten free breadcrumbs

Cornflour – use ‘corn’ cornflour rather than ‘wheaten’ cornflour

 Cookbooks that often don’t use dairy or gluten or are easy to substitute are often the Asian inspired cookbooks.

 Esoteric nutrition

 Esoteric nutrition is about feeling into the foods that are right for you and your family by clairsentience (clear feeling), not just by what a book or someone else says is good for you. Take for example how the dairy corporation sponsors eating dairy for your calcium requirements. Are they saying this for your benefit or theirs? Most children beyond the age of two can no longer digest milk properly due to the lacking of the enzyme lactase in the individual and the product. We are told to have calcium for strong healthy bones and teeth which is truth, but are not told how we leach calcium from the body via acidic foods and salt. Even stress causes acidity in the body which in turn causes depletion of calcium reserves when the blood uses calcium stores to bring the acid alkaline balance back to a favorable parameter.

 Esoteric food preparation

When it comes to food preparation we want to be in the very best energy possible as everything we do carries the imprint of the energy that we are in. The movie ‘Like water for chocolate’ is a good example of how energy transfer of the person cooking the food can affect the taste of the food and the health of the person consuming the foods. If we cook when angry for example then the food will contain the energy of that person’s anger. Bad enough for the person who made it to eat it in that energy for it is their energy amplified, but for others, to consume something with another’s bad energy is worse as the body doesn’t know where it came from and it is like poison to that body.

 Optimally we want to always be in the best energy possible and not have emotions rule our lives. It’s not just cooking that is influenced this way but everything we do carries energy. If we send an e-mail in a state of anger or sadness, then the person receiving that e-mail will be affected by that energy. At the moment we are not in a perfect world where every person’s energy is good so how do we deal with this situation. We can only be responsible for our self and our energy and also how we allow others energy to effect us.

 In a state of connectedness to the inner heart, (via the gentle breath) and the harmony from within we will be impulsed with what to do in any given situation. Things that we can do to help, is to be aware of the energy that we are in when preparing foods. If we recognise that we are feeling emotional in any way, then best to stop, sit down, practice the gentle breath meditation to help clear the emotion and re-connect back to the inner heart before proceeding with the food preparation. Whilst preparing the food we can also stir the foods anticlockwise with the rhythms of the inner heart and this will also help to clear any negative energy. Also a clearing symbol (available from Universal Medicine) can be placed under the bowl, plate or whatever we are using. The clearing symbol is good for dinning out if we feel that the chef or other kitchen staff might not be in the best energy. If we actually see or feel a strong negative energy coming from the kitchen of a restaurant it is more self-loving to leave.

 Foods that heal vs. foods that harm

 As in the above discussion we can see that the same food prepared with love will have a different effect than if prepared in anger. In this way the same food can be harming or healing. I’m sure you can guess which is which. But there are also other foods that no matter how you prepared them they can be harmful to the body. Mostly we know what these are. Connected to your inner heart you will know that foods that are processed and refined are damaging to your health. Sugars, starches, including most grains and dairy are all processed as well as being heavy to digest.

It is more important what you DON’T eat than what you actually eat.
It’s all about obstruction. In other words, which foods are damaging and obstructing the ‘True Vitality’ of the body. The number one benefit from eating simple, fresh, and raw foods is the elimination of all the processed foods that are DAMAGING to the body. Your body will be able to rejuvenate if you have eliminated harmful processed foods such as refined sugar and processed starches from your diet.

 Increasing your ‘True Vitality’ with food choices

 Foods can be broken down into several groups or categories:

1. Processed starches/grains – breads, cereals, cakes, biscuits, pasta

2. Refined sugars – sugar, ice-cream, sweets/lollies, chocolate, soft-drinks, alcohol

3. Dairy products of all animals  

4. Processed oils – any oil from vegetable, animal or seed not cold-pressed

5. Meat and eggs – chicken, turkey, beef, pork, fish, eggs

6. Unprocessed and not heated (cold pressed) oils from nuts, seeds and vegetables

7. Cooked fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes and herbs

8. Raw fresh fruits, vegetables (including salads) and herbs

9. Sprouted seeds, nuts and legumes

 Most diets that claim that they work for good health or weight loss omit the first two to four food groups.

 Whole grains such as rice, quinoa, buckwheat, amaranth and animal proteins in moderation (125-200g 3/week), will still result in reasonably good health. It is a moderately acidic diet which will leach some alkalizing minerals, which can lead to osteoporosis but is certainly better than a diet based on processed foods.

 Remember it is more important what you don’t eat than what you do eat. What you leave out of your diet completely is the key to ultimate health.

 The natural process of digestion causes fermentation. Cooked foods cause more fermentation than raw foods. Also, not chewing any type of food will cause more fermentation due to the food not being broken down enough first. It is important to note that the stomach doesn’t have teeth! The stomach does have acids to break down foods, but these acids are stimulated to be secreted in the stomach by the action of chewing.

 With years of poor eating the cells in our body grow and become full of carbonic acid. As you eat less fermentive foods the cells contract and give off waste gas and shrink in size. This is why people seem to be gassier when first eating a raw food diet, they are releasing the gas build up from their cells. However, gas from eating legumes is because they have usually not been soaked and sprouted to remove the enzyme inhibitors and so this causes fermentation in the gut and the subsequent release of flatulence.

 The clearer and cleaner you become, the more sensitive you become, but you also become clearer and more sensitive to energies – more connected and clear feeling (clairsentient).

 When you stop eating certain foods that are toxic, the body will detoxify. This may give symptoms of runny nose, headaches, nausea etc, so it is important to firstly realise that this is the body clearing and to assist it where you can.

Ways to help the body to detoxify are – body brushing, sweating, drinking plenty of pure clean water, drinking fresh vegetable and fruit juices especially green vegetable juices and melons (not together). Herbal teas such as dandelion & fennel can be helpful. Rebounding on a lymphaciser and having chakra-puncture (esoteric acupuncture) is great for detoxification. Walking in fresh air especially by the seaside or in the bush where there is a greater concentration of negative ions.

Cleansing and Re-building ‘True Vitality’       

A truly balanced diet is always half cleansing (removing undesirable toxins and catarrh from the tissue) and half building (repairing and restoring tissue integrity). When we recognise that the body has become unbalanced, we can choose to have a higher cleansing ratio to ‘catch up’ on the detoxification side of things and also have a period of rebuilding and regenerating good healthy tissues, blood and lymph.

 Living foods in general, whether we are talking about juices or raw whole living foods, vibrate with a special energy (Life Force) which affects you physically and mentally. They give you the strength, clarity of mind; confidence and sense of wellbeing that make you want to do what is best for your body. This is something that no diet of cooked foods and no amount of vitamin pills and supplements will ever do.

 Juices, fresh and full of ‘Life Force’ are an effective preventative measure for health problems that originate from nutrient deficiencies. Juices have exactly the right ingredients for preventing or helping reverse disease.

The cells in the body have a very close connection with the blood. The blood visits every cell in the body, so it makes sense to ensure that there is enough good quality vitamins, minerals, enzymes and life force to nourish the blood that feeds the cells of the body.

When cells become weak from deficiencies, various processes lead to DNA damage in the cell nucleus. These breakdowns usually take place in a constitutionally weak part of the body and can initiate the start of degenerative diseases. Plants that have deficiencies get diseases, and vets well know of how animals that have deficiencies get diseased too, so why would we think that we are any different?

If juices are the ‘cleansing factor’ we need, what are the best re-builders? Juices have the necessary factors for this job also, but seeds and nuts that are fresh, raw, soaked and sprouted are great re-builders.

Some vegetables, nuts and seeds contain the high powered principles and chemical activities that are needed to renew glands such as the pituitary, thyroid, adrenals, prostate, ovaries and so on. When we take the ‘gland building factors’ we help the whole body to rebalance.

All nuts and seeds have a natural coating of enzyme inhibitors to prevent them form sprouting too early when the conditions are unfavorable to germinate. This allows the seeds to keep for a very long time to preserve the continuation of the species.

 There have been seeds found in King Tutankhamen’s tomb that are 2000 years old, that when planted –grew! These enzyme inhibitors when ingested prevent our digestive system from digesting the seeds and nuts and therefore not allow the nutrients to be absorbed. This is why we soak the seeds- to remove the enzyme inhibitors. The sprouting is to ignite the release of the ‘life force’ and activates that seed or nut to its highest nutritional value.

 Green juice

So now let’s talk about specific juices. All vegetable and fruits have wonderful nourishing and cleansing properties, but my favorite ‘health in a glass’ is a green juice.

 Greens that can be juiced include dandelion leaves, spinach, beetroot leaves, kale, parsley, cabbage, asparagus, celery, bok choy, chives, coriander, mints and other herbs and sprouts of many kinds, wheat grass, barley grass and watercress.

 Green juices have many good things in common, but the most important factor in green juices is the chlorophyll.

Chlorophyll in the leaves of plants is a chemical powerhouse activated by sunlight. Chlorophyll is often called the ‘life blood’ of plants as the chlorophyll molecule is nearly identical to the hemoglobin molecule of blood. The main difference is that there is an iron molecule in the centre of the hemoglobin structure, while there is a magnesium molecule in the centre of the chlorophyll molecule.

 Surprisingly, most green vegetables also contain small amounts of iron in addition to the magnesium from the chlorophyll. Most greens also contain calcium. Calcium and magnesium are great cleansers of the body. Dr. Jensen has a saying I love to use, which is: – “When you’re green inside, you’re clean inside”.

Other virtues of green juices are that they help to build a high blood count. A high red blood cell count means more oxygen can be delivered to the tissues to aid in cellular respiration; Green juices also contain Vitamin K, an important blood clotting factor, Vitamin A, in the form of carotene as well as traces of copper and zinc; Most are high in calcium and potassium; Juices made from greens help control calcium in the body which assists in healing; It feeds the beneficial bacteria and cleanses the bowel. They also cleanse the bloodstream.

 The most concentrated and cleansing green juice of them all would have to be the grasses. Wheat and barley grass, or rather the young shoots of them.

A 30ml shot of wheat or barley grass juice is equal to the ingestion of 1kg of green vegetables in their whole state. They contain the most amazing amounts of chlorophyll, enzymes, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium, as well as pro-vitamin A (carotene), vitamins B complex, C, E and K. the potassium salts rich in these greens, are supportive of heart function and neutralize muscle acids. They help protect the liver and gall bladder from the harmful effects of fats. The carotene is said to be anti-carcinogenic, protective against cancer. Many clinics and retreats around the world have used the grass juices as part of a degenerative disease and cancer treatment program.

Some find the taste of the green juices unpalatable, but if mixed with other juices or drank as a shot, followed by a nice tasting juice, most people can then experience the health promoting benefits that raw fresh grass juices can offer them.

 Fresh raw juices are a natural vitamin, mineral and enzyme supplement with cleansing and regenerative properties with the added bonus of ‘true vitality’

Super-foods

Foods which are very high in essential nutrients are called super-foods and they can help us reach optimum levels of health by providing us with the vitamins and minerals which are missing from our diet.

Super-foods are an excellent way to make up for dietary deficiencies. Even if you are eating a 100% organic diet you will still not be able to get all the nutrients you need from your food due to unsustainable, profit driven agricultural practices which have seriously depleted our soils and hybridised our food.

Many nutritionists claim that deficiency is worse than toxicity. Even though toxic build up needs to be dealt with, in some ways the body can cope with a certain amount of toxicity. However, mineral, vitamin, protein, fat or even enzyme deficiencies can have a serious and immediate impact on your health.

Spirulina – The protein, vitamin and mineral powerhouse

Spirulina contains a most powerful combination of nutrients such as protein, most of the essential minerals and vitamins, particularly iron and B vitamins and has ten times the Beta Carotene than carrots. Apart from mother’s milk, Spirulina is the only other whole food that contains Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA). Spirulina is also a rich source of magnesium and many easily absorbable trace minerals.

Bee pollen – The king of foods

Bee pollen is considered by nutritionists to be one of the most complete foods found in nature. It contains a rich source of high quality protein due to it containing all the essential amino acids. Bee pollen contains vitamins A, B, C, and E as well as being very rich in B vitamins including Folic Acid. Bee pollen contains many minerals, including: barium, boron, calcium, copper, iodine, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, and zinc, as well as having over 5,000 enzymes and the phytonutrients such as co-enzymes, bioflavanoids, phytosterols, and carotinoids. Bee pollen also contains 15% natural lecithin and is an alkalizing food.

 (Warning: some people have an allergic reaction to bee products including pollen)

 Coconut oil – Another miracle nature food

Coconut oil is the highest source of saturated medium chain triglycerides (MCT) of any naturally occurring vegan food. Around 50% of these MCT’s are made up of Lauric Acid, the most important essential fatty acid in the building and maintaining the immune system. Mother’s milk is the only other source of Lauric acid. These medium chain fatty acids are more digestible and much more stable that any other fat and in fact can be left at room temperature for a year without going rancid. Coconut oil is great for the skin, both taken internally and in external application for dryness and sensitivities. Additionally coconut oil has anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties and for this reason it is a powerful ally in the fight against Candida. Incredibly, even though it is a fat, coconut actually assists weight control by promoting the body’s ability to burn unwanted fat and has even been shown to lower bad cholesterol. For this reason coconut oil has been used for under active thyroid to increase the body’s metabolism.

Linseeds (flaxseeds) – Essential Fatty acid boost

The greatest nutritional benefit flax has to offer is its high Omega 3 essential fatty acid content, whose benefits include lowering total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) levels and lowering blood pressure. Flax also contains a variety of vitamins and minerals: vitamins A, B1, B2, C, D, and E, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, sulphur, sodium, chlorine, iron and zinc. It also contains fibre and mucilage that promote healthy intestinal function.

The alpha linoleic acid (a type of Omega 3 fat) in flax may help prevent heart attacks by reducing the risk of potentially deadly blood clots as well as abnormal heart rhythms. Flax also provides the highest plant source of phytoestrogens, which may play a key role in the prevention of breast, prostate and colon cancers.

Himalayan salt – the healthy salt full of minerals

Himalayan salt is mined by hand from a protected area of the Himalayan Mountains, is free of the pollutants found in sea salt and table salt. The salt contains 84 minerals of the possible 92 trace minerals, in the same proportion as naturally exists in our blood. It contains a highly crystalline structure, which allows nutrients to be absorbed at the cellular level, purifying the body physically and bio-energetically.

Consumption of the salt has been associated with neutralizing the acid/alkaline balance in the body, breaking down the build-up of heavy metals, stimulating blood circulation and the nervous system and re-mineralizing the body.

Goji berries – A nutritionally dense food with loads of antioxidants

Grown in Asia, and long regarded as a longevity, strength building and sexual potency food. The berries may be one of the most nutritionally dense foods available; containing 18 amino acids, all 8 essential amino acids, and 21 trace minerals. They are the richest source of carotenoids and 500 times the vitamin C by weight than oranges. In addition to these and other vitamins, goji berries also contain about 11mg of iron per 100grams and an array of powerful phytochemicals. Goji berries also enhance metabolism.

Maca root powder – hormonal balancer and strengthener

Maca root is native to the mountain regions of Peru, where it has been used by native Indians as a vital ingredient for health for thousands of years. Maca root contains significant amounts of amino acids, carbohydrates, and minerals including calcium, phosphorous, zinc, magnesium, iron, as well as vitamins B1, B2, B12, C and E.
Maca root has been associated with improving fertility, hormonal balance, increasing sperm count, stimulating and strengthening libido and increasing energy and vitality.

Wheatgrass juice

High in chlorophyll and contains a wide range of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, antioxidants, and rich in fibre. These nutrients are easily assimilated through our digestive tract giving our body instant vital nutrients including potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, phosphorus, manganese, zinc, beta carotene, B1, B2, B6, C, Folic acid, and pantothenic acid. Regular ingestion can improve the digestive system, help prevent cancer, diabetes and heart disease, cure constipation, detoxify heavy metals from the blood stream, cleanse the liver, prevent hair loss and help to make menopause manageable.

Sea vegetables

Although they are part of the plant kingdom, sea vegetables are a complete protein source and one of nature’s richest sources of vegetable protein (up to 38%) and vitamin B12.Ounce for ounce sea vegetables are higher in vitamins and minerals than any other food group. They are particularly high in vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2, B6, and B12.

Seaweed also contains a substance (ergesterol) that converts to vitamin D in the body. In addition to key nutrients, seaweeds provide us with carotene, chlorophyll, enzymes, and fiber. Seaweed’s saltiness comes from a balanced, chelated combination of sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, and a myriad of trace minerals found in the ocean. Because their chemical make-up is so similar to human blood, sea vegetables have a balancing, alkalizing effect on the blood. Sea vegetables are known for their ability to reduce cholesterol, remove metallic and radioactive elements from the body, and to prevent goiter. Seaweed also has antibiotic properties that have shown to be effective against penicillin-resistant bacteria.

How to use super-foods in the diet

Wheat grass juice is best taken as a ‘shot’, throw it down and chase it with something that tastes nice. It has a liquid grass taste similar to peas but stronger. If taken on an empty stomach can cause transient nausea. As it works through your system you may even get an upset tummy, but this passes quickly and you rush to the toilet and flush out your toxins. In some this can work very quickly and in others may have no effect on the bowel. The more toxic you are the more the reaction. Don’t let this put you off because wheat grass juice is a powerful detoxifier. You do get used to the taste and some even love the taste. You can also use wheat grass as a dried powder and mix into smoothies with fruit. When I juice wheat grass I also juice a bit of lemon grass to flavour the mix

Spirulina on it’s own is not nice tasting either, but mixed with a bit of fruit and almond milk or a handful of soaked almonds, some dates (also soaked), some sunflower seeds (preferably sprouted), and whizzed in the blender, it actually tastes great and makes a great quick alternative to breakfast or lunch that is super nutritious. If you like you can also add in the other super-foods such as the goji berries (soaked to soften), the bee pollen (if no allergy to bee products), and a tablespoon of coconut oil. Sea vegetables can be used in soups, curries, stir-fry’s and of course the nori roll with fresh sprouts and salads.

 Other influences on our ‘True Vitality’

 It’s not just the foods that we eat that deplete our energy or ‘true vitality, but the diet is one area that we have easy control over. This is a vast subject that can take many hours to explain, but briefly the key elements are about not giving away our energy to people and situations in our life. Stress is one of the biggest drains of our life force and we know all too well how it can effect our digestion. Ulcers are an example of this.

 How self-loving we are to ourselves is a key element also. Self-love comes into play with food choices and choices in our life in a big way. This is why I like to show people how to do the ‘gentle breath’ meditation to help ‘connect’ to the inner heart and make choices by the impulse of the inner heart rather than the mind or personality.