in this day and age many people are experiencing the ill health of
body, mind,and planet. Commercialism, fad diets, and rampant consumerism
reign supreme and finding simple, clear, and affordable solutions can
seem difficult to achieve. However, this is really not the case. As time
goes on, an increasing number of people are gravitating to time honored
methods such as consuming organic food, growing food locally, and
utilizing medicinal herbs. Theses methods which our ancestors used for
ages worked well at healing the human body without causing the kind of
environmental degradation we see today. This modern industrial schism
that has occurred between our minds and the physical world has resulted
in a great deal of mental/spiritual degradation. Mental health has at
its root physical health.
In
recent years there has been a growing popularity of raw and living
foods. In the past, and especially the distant past people largely ate a
diet of raw greens, herbs, nuts, and seeds. Cooked meats, in the diets
of our ancestors where an augmentation of the diet and the exception,
not the rule. Often times pre-industrial or indigenous cultures would
eat meat raw. Sushi, jerky, or straight raw meat are some historical
examples of raw meat consumption. The scientific theory propounded by
raw food activists is that by cooking, food enzymes are destroyed,
nutrients and water content are diminished, as well as the vital life
forces, or scientifically measurable bio photons within the food.
Today's
diets are largely comprised of non organic, highly processed, highly
cooked or fried foods with very little vegetables included in the meal.
Obesity, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are the pernicious and
"conventionally" incurable angels of death that plague our society. Ill
mental health is also on the rise and no doubt connected to one's
physical health. For example, Niacin (vitamin B3) is a natural
neurotransmitter regulator. By simply eating a handful or two of raw
cashews or another niacin rich food regularly one could be rid of the
need for antidepressants. Artificially synthesized antidepressants offer
the same function of regulating serotonin levels but are toxic,
expensive,and to some unobtainable. While some find buying organic food
to be expensive, it is far cheaper than paying for exorbitant hospital
bills and expensive pharmaceuticals for extended periods of time. A diet
of locally grown, organic raw food is a form of health insurance, paid
in full, on the front end. One that helps the body, ecology, and local
economy.
There is, within us, the need to heal the wounds of
separation from our earth-mother. By purchasing organic food from the
grocery store or farmers market one can help heal our body/mind/ planet.
This simple act leverages dollars into sound agricultural practices and
local economies. Even better still is the act of gardening and wild
crafting as it connects one directly with nature. Organic, locally
available foods are higher in nutrient content because they have not
lost their nutrients by being picked green, sitting in warehouses, on
trucks, and on store shelves for extended periods. Organic. fresh raw
food often tastes better and is also light and easy to digest. If you
grow your own, or forage for wild foods it is the best of all possible
worlds. Then your food is fresh, organic and free. By engaging in these
acts, one can see the direct relationship we have with our earth-mother,
and that though our efforts, we can re-engage with the community of
nature and heal our physical and psychic wounds.
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