Nutrition

In the pyramid of Maslow, the 1^st level is occupied by the physiological needs like eating and sleeping: these are the two main important and primary needs.

Eating is vital and it is one of the sources of happiness. First because having a balanced way of feeding brings you fullness and health. We recommend eating every day at least 5 vegetables and fruits to be healthy.

If you can afford to use organic food. Indeed, unfortunately, it is more expensive but allocates a budget accordingly maybe reduce some unnecessary expense. All in life is a question of priority, sometimes people say they cannot afford and they spend a fortune in bars and always need to get the first one the last high tech devices. It is highly recommended to rotate and vary a maximum of a type of food and way of cooking: using raw (salad…) and cooking slowly and at low-medium temperature otherwise you destroy the nutritional intakes by breaking the molecules of a certain type of food. I invite you to search on Ayurveda* food as well but as an insight this is a methodology (ancient Hindu tradition: multimillennial) crossing a lot of parameters: your blood group, the association with certain type of food (multiplying the positive effects), the respect of the seasonality and the moment of the day (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and so one. *meaning “science of life” in Sanskrit. Forget the idea that eating healthy is tasteless or boring. Realize that in the verb “crEATe” at the center you can see “eat” so be inventive, have some fun, there are thousands of excellent and simple recipes on the internet at your entire disposal.

Another very important point is to practice the mindfulness when you eat that’s to say to decompose the 5 key moments of it:

1-eating with the eyes

2-chewing (as much as you can, it brings satiety more rapidly reducing your portions)

3-the effervescence taste buds

4-swallowing

5-satiety

But these 5 steps are essential and it is important to pay attention to each of them. This is a kind of alchemy allowing you applying this solemnity to establish a communion, a sort of transmission and transfer of energy getting a maximum of nutritional intakes. That’s why in the past and even nowadays some people recommend to be silent (in a spiritual retreat this is one of the technics taught) to be focused on the present moment.

Moreover, the way of eating is important: the atmosphere, the company, if you are happy when you eat, your assimilation will be better this is what the American scientists have discovered and called “the French paradox”. Try to avoid to watch TV or to stare at your mobile. The meal should be a break in your day: a kind of prayer or meditation. By extension, the notion of preparation is important as a ritual. The legends of grandmas say that preparing with love making the best recipes. But it is true we discharge our energy on the food and prepare our own body to assimilate better.

One important advice is to listen to your body: do not follow necessarily your routine of eating 3 times a day. We have cycles with our appetite. Da Vinci said wisely “ you want to stay healthy, follow this diet: do not eat without wanting” which is echoing with a German proverb saying “you want to eat a long time, eat few”.

As a conclusion eating is a life and as “Life must be eaten to live” as said  Maurice Chapelan

Issa