Savoring Moments Through Mindful Eating
We all eat. But how mindful are we of every bite we take?
Your mother always told you to slow down and taste your food. That’s great advice, especially when we find ourselves grabbing a quick snack on the run or eating a meal while driving. How we eat says as much about us as what we choose to eat.
We can learn a great deal by paying attention to our eating habits. Our appetites change depending on our moods. If we’re depressed, we may eat more than usual or we may lose our appetite completely. When we are consumed by an emotion such as anger or sadness, we may not be aware of our eating habits at all.
Paying attention to the way you eat is a great way to develop a more mindful approach to life in general. Since eating is something we do several times a day, it’s a perfect activity to pair with mindfulness. If you can choose to eat a meal aloneat work or at homeyou have a perfect opportunity to create greater awareness at the same time.
Ready to give it a try?
Sit in a quiet place where you will not be disturbed for several minutes. Taking the time to present your food in an appealing way may be helpful for this exercise. At the very least, unwrap your food and discard any packaging.
If possible, take a look at the food before you put it on a plate. Spend a moment focusing on the food itselfthe colors, textures, and aromas. Consider the nutrients in the food, and focus on what it will do for your body.
Now, shift your attention to your empty plate. This is the vessel that will hold the food you choose to put into your body. Notice the shape, the size and the color of the plate. Take a moment to consider the space that the food will fill on this plate.
Next, spend a moment concentrating on your body. Look at your belly. Feel your hunger. Pay attention to your craving, your anticipation of the flavors, and the way they will taste on your tongue.
As you serve the food and place it on your plate, be mindful of the fact that this will be nourishing your body. Whatever you choose to place on your plate will ultimately serve as fuel for your activities and contribute to your energy and wellness.
Now, take a bite of the food you have served yourself. Chew slowly, and pay attention to the flavor and texture of this bite. Feel the food sliding down your throat, and consider how it will be digested by your system to create energy for your body. With each bite, notice the sensation of chewing and swallowing. Savor the taste. Swallow completely before taking another bite. As you take the last bite, pay attention to the fullness in your belly, and note the satisfaction of completing a mindful meal.
Try eating mindfully during one meal a day for a week. For your regular, faster meals, notice when you find yourself eating without paying attention. Intentionally slow down so that you can enjoy that one bite before speeding up again. Doing this regularly will give you a much better understanding of what you are feeding your bodyand how.
By becoming more mindful of our eating, we learn to pay attention to what feeds us, both literally and figuratively. Our food choices affect our wellness, and our approach to eating spills over into the way we handle our work, our relationships, and our lives in general. We must learn to recognize patterns in our behavior in order to create more awareness and harmony.
Mindlessly chewing whatever we fork into our mouths is akin to ignoring our actions in general. With a few moments of daily mindful eating, you will develop a much greater awareness of your choices and their power over all aspects of your life.
About The Author
Deva Ratnakara has been teaching mindfulness and yoga for more than twenty years. He lives in Sri Lanka where he is the head of a 500-member meditation group. To learn about his retreat in February 2005, please visit http://truemindfulness.org.
welcome@truemindfulness.org
Natural Vitamin Supplements
Fresh fruit and vegetables grown organically have proven to be the best sources of natural vitamins. Vitamins in this form are assimilated synergistically in conjunction with other nutrients. Natural vitamin supplements are made from food sources, and they contain a natural blend of vitamins and nutrients from real sources such as Brewer’s yeast, maize, liver, alfalfa, sprouted foods, spirulina, chlorella, and more.
Isolated synthetic vitamin nutrients face a considerable amount of rejection by the body at the cellular level, and the absorption is not complete. Besides, the chemical additives, such as binders, fillers, and preservatives, further hamper the digestion process. Natural vitamin E (D-alfa tocopherol), which is far superior to synthetic vitamin E (alfa tocopherol), is opposite in molecular structure to its synthetic form. Hence, it has been observed that natural vitamin supplements supersede their synthetic look-alikes in terms of absorption, assimilation, and retention.
The ancient traditional Indian system of medicine, Ayurveda, has one of the most potent nutritional supplements called “chyawanprash,” with over fifty ingredients, formulated by sage Chyawan to regain his lost youth. Its main ingredient is Indian gooseberry (embilica officianalis), the richest source of natural vitamin C (twenty times that of an orange). Additionally, it has a protective enzyme over it that prevents oxidation of vitamin C even at very high temperatures. Another wonderful supplement is spirulina, which is rich in vitamin Ea key antioxidantas well as in the vitamin B series B1, B3, B6, and B12. Spirulina, which is available in powder form, is also the richest whole food source of beta carotene.
Over 80% of the cheaply available synthetic vitamins get excreted out of the system. Natural vitamin supplements may sound like a costly proposition, but in the long run will prove otherwise. Natural vitamin supplements are available at health food stores, or they can be ordered online. They can also be purchased from network marketing agents. It is advisable to choose a product manufactured by a GMP-certified company. “Neutraceutical,” is a word coined by the nutrition supplement industry for high-quality supplements.
Vitamin Supplements provides detailed information on Vitamin Supplements, Natural Vitamin Supplements, Liquid Vitamin Supplements, Best Vitamin Supplements and more. Vitamin Supplements is affiliated with Multi Vitamins.
GABA An Inexpensive, Natural, and Effective Way to Increase HGH
Suppose you can turn back the hands of time to 10 years ago. You would look younger, have more energy, and be slimmer. HGH (Human Growth Hormone) is a chemical produced in the pituitary gland of the brain. HGH is reported to decline starting at the age of 25. Some of the many benefits of increasing this hormone in the body are:
o Lose fat, gain muscle
o Increase energy level
o Enhance sexual performance
o Increase cardiac output
o Remove wrinkles
o Eliminate cellulite
o Increase memory retention
o Improve sleep quality
o Improve skin elasticity
o Increase exercise endurance
o Increase bone mass
HGH supplements can cost from $49.95 all the way up to several hundred dollars for a one month supply. Recently, an amino acid called GABA has been shown to help increase HGH when taken internally. You can enjoy the benefits of HGH without paying a high price.
What is GABA?
GABA (Gamma aminobutyric acid) is a gamma neurotransmitter (A neurotransmitter is a substance that transmits nerve impulses across a synapse. A synapse is a region where nerve impulses are transmitted across axon terminals.).
It’s in high concentration in the hypothalamus, so it plays a significant role in hypothalamic-pituitary function. The pituitary gland is the master endocrine gland affecting all hormonal functions of the body including Growth Hormone.
A study from the First Medical Clinic at the University of Milan in Milan, Italy showed “In all of the 19 subjects studied, compared with 18 controls, plasma growth hormone levels were significantly increased (above 5 mg/ml) by acute oral administration of 5 g of GABA “
The hypothalamus is a region of the posterior section of the brain and is the regulating center for visceral (instinctive) Functions such as sleep cycles, body temperature, and the activity of the pituitary gland.
There have been literally hundreds of clinical studies on GABA and numerous studies on GABA’s ability to elevate growth hormone levels.
This study showed over a 5 1/2 fold increase in plasma growth hormone levels 90 minutes after GABA administration. That is a significant increase unmatched by any other nutritional means.
GABA’s growth hormone elevating effects is said to rival that of potent pharmaceutical compounds.
Maximum Results
To benefit from GABA’s ability to increase growth hormone levels and fat burning capabilities, you can start by taking 3-5 mg per day. HGH is released within 90 minutes of falling asleep so if GABA is being used for fat loss it should be taken immediately before bed. Taking GABA before bedtime will also help improve sleep cycles leading to more restful and also has a calming affect. If GABA is being used for it’s calming properties or any of it’s other positive benefits it may be taken anytime.
The powdered form of GABA is ideal since it will be absorbed in the quickest amount of time. Mix the powder in 8 ounces of water or juice. This dosage should be taken at night, 30 minutes before bedtime.
Where can you purchase GABA?
You can find GABA at your local health food store or vitamin store. Be sure to purchase the powdered form fro immediate absorption. You may have also seen the ads that are popping up all over the internet for a product called Dream Shape (http://www.cara2.com). This product is 100% pure GABA powder. They offer a free 2 week trial size of Dream Shape. If you decide to continue with the product, then they will send you a month supply every month and charge you $29.95 each month.
You can also get high quality 100% GABA powder at a discount supplement store online. Afforedable Supplements (http://www.afforedable-supplements.com) online store carries several name brand 100% GABA powders at a substantial discount. Their prices range from $13.95 – 16.95 per 1 month supply.
GABA is a great addition to any weight loss and diet program. The added benefit of the anti-aging affects of increased HGH levels is a definite plus.
About The Author
Danielle Sims explored her library of alternative health, herbal books, and aromatherapy books and created a blueprint for making her own body wrap formulas at home. For more informationvisit Danielle’s website http://www.wrapyourselfslim.com.
links@wrapyourselfslim.com