Eating natural

[sirdarksol]

One of the things that I have most found to impact how I feel on a day to day basis is that I have started trying to eat more and more natural foods. I am not necessarily talking about organic stuff (though I'm trying to do this, as well), but just eating food that hasn't been hugely processed. I have been trying to make more homemade foods, rather than pre-packaged stuff, since most of the latter has some sort of preservatives, processed food, etc...

The biggest difficulty with doing this is that it takes time. There are ways to maximize your time (like make a large batch of something and refrigerate/freeze it in single servings), but you still have to spend time doing so.

The second biggest difficulty is cost. For the first time in history, it is cheaper to buy high-sugar, high-fat, pre-made foods. This is because processing allows corners to be cut, lowering costs.
One way to lower costs is to find a local farmer's market. Since you are buying produce/meat directly from the farmers, the cost is lower.

On mornings that I make myself a meal at home, I have far more energy during practice than I do on the days that I have a gas-station or fast-food breakfast. Not a scientific study, but good enough indication for me to keep doing it.

[disgruntled]

i am trying to do that as well. i have found that once you get into a routine of sorts the time concern is really not that bad.... especially if you freeze stuff!!!!! and the benefits are huge. i would rather eat some of my frozen left overs instead of a TV dinner and they take the same time to prepare from frozen.

the cost is helped by the fact that if you eat proper you will eat less. when you are full, with good food that will maintain your sugar levels, you don't get cravings or constantly want to snack. less eating means less food needed.

[Koutaishi]

Eating naturally is a big topic in Shiatsu. Of particular note is eating things that are in season in your locale, in order to strengthen one's connection with the local chi, though this, I'm sure, is more spiritual than Sir wanted this thread.

[disgruntled]

Originally Posted by Koutaishi

Eating naturally is a big topic in Shiatsu. Of particular note is eating things that are in season in your locale, in order to strengthen one's connection with the local chi, though this, I'm sure, is more spiritual than Sir wanted this thread.

how does eating local veggies strengthen your chi? and how local do they have to be?

[Koutaishi]

Originally Posted by disgruntled

how does eating local veggies strengthen your chi? and how local do they have to be?

The concept is that chi is constantly flowing around the world. Everything, including food, air, and water, carries this chi. Eating food grown locally (the closer, the better, but even just eating things that would be in season for your area is a good step, according to the concepts of shiatsu) allows for a more natural flow of chi both in and out of your body, putting you in harmony with your locale, and thus, improving your health.
I don't necessarily believe this to the letter, but, at the same time, the people teaching this stuff are very healthy (consider the condition Atkins was in when he was teaching people how to "eat healthy"), so they must be doing something right.

[disgruntled]

neat concept, but living in calgary it is not very practical the majority of the time. i do try to buy more local around now during the growing season..... but for me it is more about environmental protection than chi.... guess that is an added bonus.

[sirdarksol]

Actually, that's a good point. What would you do in the case of living in, say, Minnesota, where there is nothing growing in the middle of winter. I'm all for healthy living, but there's no way I'm eating twigs to live through the winter.

[sirdarling]

I agree, I do try to eat locally for a lot of things... as well I feel much better about eating a half a cow when it was treated humanely. I dislike modern livestock farms a lot.
But as a complete Japanophile nerd, I do eat a lot of Japanese imported things... it just tastes better and feels more right to eat kombu farmed in japan. Thankfully we do get a lot of rice grown locally in MN and that is something that can be stored over the winter.

[disgruntled]

the problem with eating a lot of imported food is that it is bad for the environment. in fact, it is better for the environment if you eat non-organic local food, than organic shipped in food.

i like exotic foods too, so i am by no means following my own advice strictly.... but i do eat local when ever possible.

[sirdarksol]

Luckly, a lot of the Japanese foods that sirdarling eats (and that I get, as well) are dried and very lightweight, meaning they have a smaller carbon footprint.

I generally try to buy my heavy stuff (particularly fresh veggies) from as close to MN as possible. I get a brand of edamame that buys from the US first, then only resorts to international purchases once the US market runs out.