THE YOGA OF EATING

11 tips for better health by Thomas Hughes.

1. Create rhythms

Nature moves in steady rhythms. Just as plants animals on daily and seasonal cycles to thrive so does human physiology. When we create rhythms around meal time the body has time to prepare and ready it self fro the complex process of digestion

2. Eat so that you may eat again

Overeating is a common way to create problems for our selves. The stomach is a container that needs room to work. By overeating foods cannot be churned properly and food stagnation and toxins will be the result.

3. Ice is not nice

Our digestion functions in a warm environment.  When considering a cold drink think of your digestive fire. Also think of your self stepping into a cold shower- on a cold day! Cold water constricts the stomach. Ice water and other cold foods will put out the fire that our life depends on.

4. Eat slow and chew

Help stomach and intestines digest your food. The stomach has no teeth. If we do not chew enough then we stress the stomach and intestines. Eating too fast also may cause indigestion.

5. Eat cooked foods

Our digestive fire must "cook" the food the food we consume in order for their assimilation. When we cook our foods in a stove we are decreasing our body's workload. Raw foods are also considered cold on the digestion, which works against our digestive fire. As a wise man once said, "it is not what you eat, it's what you digest that counts. If you like raw foods use them in a small quantities as supplements to a main course.

6. " Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a princess, and dinner like a pauper".

This bit of wisdom ties back to another aspect of daily rhythms. If we sleep in the night and work in the day this system will suit you well.  Dinner, a.k.a super, is a word derived from soup. Soup, or light fare, is a great choice at night. rest well!

7. Simply eat

The nervous system is intimately tied to digestive system. If we become excited or in any way stimulated when we are eating we disrupt the stomach actions of our digestive process. When we multitask while eating we divert precious resources away from our digestive organs to our other faculties in use. Multitasking also refers to too much conversation. Find time to eat peaceful and quiet.

8. Creating a meal

Find those combinations that work fro you. The more types of foods we consume at the same meal the more our digestive system has to prioritize its activities. This may result in some foods not being digested for the sake of another. Simple and bland foods are great now and the to rest a weary body

9. Eat local and fresh foods

When we eat local and fresh foods we eat seasonal foods. This approach gives us the best chance to stay in harmony with the seasons as well insure  our foods are nutritious. The farmers market is a great place to start. Fresh foods also include foods that have been recently prepared. Foods loose their vital energy when stored for too long. Try to eat foods within 24 hours of cooking.

10. Make your kitchen the center of your home

Practice what you have learned in cooking class. Get together with friends to cook a meal. Cooking is a very human occupation and it connects us to ourselves our health and the world around us. When we cook our own foods we eat better quality foods then those found in restaurants. the cook also plays a role in the energetics of the foods. Consuming your own foods insures you know exactly what you are eating.

11. Enjoy!