While I’m here getting ready for my next trip to NY (second to last class!) I’ve been thinking back on how I got here. So I’d like to share a personal story with you today.
I realized at some point in college that I had issues with depression and anxiety, and that I had been dealing with (or more properly, ignoring) these problems for many years. I was frequently irritable, impatient and would get angry at myself and others at the drop of a hat, or the drop of anything. Little things, like stubbing my toe, dropping a book, would enrage me.
College had its rough points. There were definitely great times, but there was definitely stress. And stress kept me from eating, sick to stomach at the thought of food. My anxiety caused digestive problems all day every day. It didn’t help that I was already skinny. So if I didn’t eat because my stomach hurt, people assumed anorexia. If I ate and got sick from stomach pains, they assumed bulimia.
After school things only got worse. Eventually I started seeing a doctor and taking antidepressants. Only then did I truly realize how far off track I had gotten, how unhappy I had been, and for how long. So I took this time to work on myself. I didn’t want to stay on medication forever, and I did not like the side effects. I started meditation and became Buddhist. The big key mentally was learning positive self-talk. For most of my life I was self-critical and would find anything to complain about. I forced myself to turn around negative comments into positive, day in and day out. Eventually the positive comments came out first.
And just because I knew I should, I started eating better. Then eventually I came off my medication (with my doctor’s support of course). I still had my bad days, and one day was pretty bad. And I was SO HUNGRY. So I stopped and got a burger. And within 15 minutes I felt great. Then I realized, my blood sugar affects my mood!
So I started working on my diet. I cut out white sugar and processed flours. Started feeling better. Greatly increased my vegetable intake. And I’ve been doing this for over a year now. I have to say, I feel happier and healthier than ever before. If I don’t eat right, I feel it. And that keeps me on track. I don’t want to go back to where I was. And I know that I’m the only one who can keep me on the right path. But I also know that I can help others. So I write here, and I have Natural Zest.
And hopefully I can help someone else remember happiness.
Filed under: Activity, Primary Food | Tags: agave, chia, exercise, lemonade, omega 3, Primary Food
Just a few things from this weekend’s holiday eats. I am still new to this blogging thing and promise to start adding some pictures soon!
Yesterday I hit the trails with my friends Deech and Lisa (pictures taken – they’re on their way!) at Shaw Nature Reserve. We all felt great doing this for many reasons. 1) The weather was mostly great. 2) We got LOTS of exercise. 3) We are supporting a local nature reserve. 4) Lots of exercise (did I mention that I already?). The three of us drank plenty of water and enjoyed nature.
I added Chia seeds to my water, yes, the ch-ch-chia pet kind of seeds, but they are actually for eating! Chia seeds have been used for hundreds of years in South America as an endurance food. From the Greens Plus website: the seeds are high in omega 3 fatty acids, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, fiber, potassium and iron (all in one little serving!). There’s also a great article at Living Foods. Gotta say, it took a bit of getting used to because the seeds turn the water or other liquid into a gel-like substance, but it was very tasty and I felt GREAT while drinking it on our hike. I plan on getting more to keep at home. Also, the seeds can be added to cereal, yogurt or used in baking.
After our nice long hike we headed back to their house for our evening BBQ. While Deech grilled up some delicious dinner (grassfed beef burgers and local specialty pork steaks), Lisa and I made some fresh lemonade. All we did was juice lemons, add water, and sweeten with AGAVE (that’s right, not sugar). Agave is delicious, already a liquid, and tends to be a bit healthier than plain old sugar.
With refreshing drinks, and delicious homemade food, we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. There is no better way to enjoy good food than with good friends!
Filed under: Uncategorized
As a meat eater, environmentally concerned person and one interested in science in general I have been following some of the developments on lab-grown meat to be used as a food source.
Here’s some info from NPR on “shmeat” (meat in the form of a lab grown sheet).
I think for now I’m going to continue eat meat occasionally (not daily), and eat meat that comes from local farms, where the animals eat grass and live relatively natural lives. Would I try shmeat if it becomes available? I really have no idea….
Filed under: Local Food, Sustainability | Tags: Dan Imhoff, Dinner and Discourse
The talk wasn’t much of a fight, but we definitely discussed some very important issues. Tonight Companion Bakehouse hosted another Wednesday Dinner and Discourse, featuring Dan Imhoff, activist and author of Food Fight. In general we discussed the Farm Bill and its impact on food, nutrition, the environment and world society as a whole. Dan Imhoff is a very passionate, aware speaker and activist. Here are just a few of the points that I took away from the evening:
- our current food crisis is an existential problem – we have obesity and starvation!
- the Farm Bill is a tremendous public expenditure
- the Farm Bill influences both the market and the environment
- the current bill supports Big Agriculture commodities (corn, cotton, wheat, rice and soy) almost exclusively compared to health, nutritious vegetables
- the Farm Bill does provide for some conservation efforts
- the bill is also a key piece of legislature for school lunch programs, food stamps and other socially important programs
And a few numbers to scare you:
- the total new Farm Bill is over $307 billion
- $400 million goes to race horse breeders in Kentucky (what?!?!?!)
- $10 billion in “permanent disaster funds”
- $100 million to organics (over 5 years, increased from $30 million)
On the upside, Dan is optimistic that with the public awareness and outcry experienced over the past year, when the Farm Bill comes up again in 5-7 years things will be REALLY different. Dan mentioned a quote from Thomas Jefferson, “The price of freedom is the cost of constant vigilance.” For years we have ignored the Farm Bill, now is the time to be vigilant!
One attendee asked what she can do to “Vote with Her Fork”, see Dan’s blog on How to Eat Like an Activist.
Filed under: Uncategorized
I’ve just watched another outstanding video on my new favorite site, TED.com, Ideas Worth Spreading. If you have not visited this site yet, then do it now! TED presents speakers, teachers and performers from a wide variety of fields. The presentations will inspire, astound, educate and awe you. The idea is that through this education and awareness, we can change the world. A little idealistic sure, but couldn’t we all use some idealism now and then?
The video I wanted to share today is a presentation by Michael Pollan, author of Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food. Pollan discusses the idea that looking at our culture and planet from the plant’s point of view, and for that matter, animals’ point of view, can provide us with a whole new outlook on food and environment. From corn’s magnificently successful attempt to take over the earth, Pollan turns to the idea that farming can not only provide us with the food we want (and healthy, good for us food at that!) but that we can heal the earth at the same time.
Filed under: Sustainability
Mark Bittman is a writer for the NY Times, has written books, and appears on numerous shows. He discusses food and all related issues.
Here he is presenting at a TED Conference in 2007 discussing what’s wrong with what we’re eating, from animal products to processed foods, from the health of our bodies to the health of our planet.
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/263
If you enjoy intellectually stimulating talks and presentations, check out TED: Ideas worth spreading
There are so many good reasons to ride a bike! Here are two of my favorites:
- it’s great exercise
- it’s great for the planet
Not to mention saving money on gas, getting some fresh air, seeing the sights and more.
Now for those of you who know me, you might be saying, “But Rachel! You can’t ride a bike!”
Well, that’s true, kind of. My dear friend Trevor is kind and patient enough to take on the task of teaching me how to ride a bike. And I am actually the third twenty-something he has done this with. Last Friday was our first lesson, and I must say, I think I did alright! It felt good. I can feel the inner biker in me coming out! Trevor is a very good teacher; he didn’t even laugh at me! And tomorrow (which is National Bike to Work Day) will be our next lesson. I’m not quite ready to bike to work, or even down the block without help, but I’m working on it!
So hop on your bike and head to work, or running errands, or just fun to enjoy the spring weather! And if you’re like me and basically forgot how to ride - yes, it is possible, I could do it when I was 4 but can’t now – find yourself a patient friend with a good, stable bike.
Well, they’re on their way. If you want local greens (which we know are the best and most delicious!) then you have to wait a bit longer unless you can get greenhouse or hydroponic leafy greens. This spring has been a bit difficult for our local St. Louis area farmers. I love my greens in a variety of ways. Sometimes I just wash them and toss them into a salad, other greens are best cooked (collards should always be cooked, kale and spinach can go either way).
For cooking you can saute your greens in a bit of olive oil, or you can quick boil them (toss into boiling water for just a minute or two, rarely more – then remove). Steaming is also an option. The less you cook your greens, the more they will retain their nutrients and healthful goodness!
I haven’t had a chance to try this recipe yet, but you can check out A Veggie Venture from another St. Louis blogger, Alanna Kellogg, for a delicious looking recipe with greens and pasta, all cooked in one pot (I love simplicity!).
Filed under: Uncategorized
I like to do what I can to stimulate my brain and encourage myself in all of my endeavors. So when it comes to my email, instead of just business and spam, I try to get some supportive words in my inbox. One of my favorite daily emails is from ThinkArete.com.
Today’s email is very appropriate for primary food and stress management. The Big Idea of the day is that in the wild, animals get stressed when their lives depend on it. Stress is a natural response to danger. And animals respond in a natural, appropriate way. When danger is present, stress assists in fight or flight. Humans however have a tendency to see danger and stress where none is. We imagine what might happen if something happened, and in doing so we create a stress response almost identical to the real one when danger is present! This is not natural and definitely not health.
For a deeper and funnier explanation, check out Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers.
Stress management happens to be one thing that I teach all of those I work with, generally through some basic yoga techniques. If you’re interested in a free session, check out NaturalZest.com.
Just a little note on primary food and family, specifically mothers!
A key part of health and wellness is primary food, and relationships are one of the most important aspects of primary food. What relationship is more primary than that with mom?
Your primary food relationships should nurture you, support you and in general make you feel better. This may mean something different for each person. Some of us may need more time with someone, some of us less. But we all should acknowledge, thank and appreciate our moms (and other primary food relationships in our lives). You and I wouldn’t be here if not for mom! And while life has its rough spots, all in all it’s a fairly amazing thing. And the more we value and can be at peace with the important people in our lives, the fuller and healthier your primary food (and life!) will be.
So I hope you had a nice mother’s day and got to say thank you to someone special.
Love you mom!
