Day 4: Get your OM on, then hop with John

I remember when meditation was a foreign concept to me. I was very busy. It did not sound like the best use of my time. Would I have to fold into a pretzel and chant? Now I've learned that meditation is actually one of the most important things I can do every day.

The 21 Day Quantum Wellness Cleanse states, “Meditation is good for you physically, emotionally, and spiritually. By making a regular practice of it, you can expect:

*Improvement in concentration and artistic abilities
*Improvement in performance levels in sports
*Increased ability to learn and communicate
*Profound relaxation
*A change in metabolism due to the lowering of biochemical by-products of stress
*Lowered heart rate and blood pressure
*Greater ease of respiration
*A feeling of being 'in tune' with your higher nature
*Greater insight and inspiration
*A more grounded approach and response to life’s challenges”

So really, why not try it?

Making time for yourself “won’t make you a bad daughter or wife or mother; it will make you a less resentful, more confident, interesting, beautiful, patient, tolerant and fun person to be around.  Your bright, shining light will give everyone else around you the permission and inspiration to shine more brightly.  Love yourself enough to do whatever it takes to be the best you you can be.” –Skinny Bitch

Setting aside even one minute a day to breathe and close your eyes to embrace the quiet is a great start. Close your eyes and count out ten breaths, focusing on the inhalations and exhalations. That’s one minute.  As you get more comfortable, you can move to 5 minutes, playing soothing music. Then eventually, maybe even 20.

Many say that the best time to meditate is in the morning. When you sit with your eyes closed before you start getting ready, the rest of your day will be set for calm, centered, and inspired focus.

If you would like, you may try this lovely meditation:

“Find a quiet spot and sit or lie down and close your eyes.  For at least ten breaths, drop down as deep into yourself as you can and connect to the part of you that wants to heal and flourish.  Feel the little buzz of magic that is getting stirred.”

Think about why you are doing this cleanse. Imagine yourself feeling lighter, happier, cleaner. Be gentle with yourself and acknowledge that this is a big step- you are doing your best and are already doing better than last week. Feel the pride in your commitment.

Use whatever time you can squeeze in – even letting these thoughts settle quietly as you breathe deeply is a good starting point. The first time I did this cleanse, I would take 3 minutes out of my lunch break and close my eyes at my desk. The main thing is to take some time to reflect and to let the good of the changes you are making settle in.

You can even make a meditation out of eating your food.

"While eating food, feel that you are feeding the power of God within. Watch the soul through every taste of the food." - Paramahamsa Hariharananda

Speaking of food! We've had some delicious, hot and spicy meals so far. In the interest of balance, it’s time to cool down a bit with a refreshing salad that’s easy to take with you on a busy day.

Today’s recipe, Hoppin’ John Salad, was introduced to me by the 21 Day Vegan Kickstart. It’s one of my favorites and I always have friends and family request the recipe when I bring it to gatherings. A printable version, along with nutrition information, can be found here: Hoppin' John Salad.

Hoppin' John Salad
Makes about 10 1/2-cup servings
2 cups cooked black-eyed peas, or 1 15-ounce can black-eyed peas, drained
1 1/2 cups cooked brown rice
1/2 cup finely sliced green onions
1 celery stalk, thinly sliced (about 1/2 cup)
1 tomato, diced
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil (I used pumpkin seed oil, thinking of my cleansing girls in Croatia!)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 - 2 garlic cloves, crushed

*(optional) I’m adding corn– ¼ cup, ½ of a yellow bell pepper, diced, and ½ cucumber, diced

Combine black-eyed peas, rice, green onions, celery, tomato, and parsley in a mixing bowl. In a small bowl, mix together lemon juice, oil, salt, and garlic and pour over the salad. Toss gently. Chill 1 to 2 hours if time permits.

If you don’t have all of the veggies, just play around with the ones you like. I’ve made many variations of this depending on what’s on hand. Always Delicious!

 

Don't Forget Your Milk and Cookies!

Did you know that in 1912, the government recommended bread, a giant serving of milk, and cookies as a healthy dinner?  They also recommended cutting back on fruit and veggies since they weren't high in protein.  Milk and cookies were the recommended diet for energy for factory workers.

Parents were told to choose whole milk over skim and don't forget to butter your bread!

In 1939, the USDA recommended getting your vitamins from cereal and butter.

So now you're thinking, "well, that was a long time ago.  Surely we've come a long way since then."

In 1992, concerned about high fat diets that were causing heart disease, the USDA produced the Food Guide Pyramid, which we all know and love, recommending 6-11 servings from the "Bread, Cereal, Rice, and Pasta Group."  As a matter of fact, considered more nutritious than fat- any fat, including the healthy ones - was saltines and white bread.

The Food Guide Pyramid gets even shadier.  “In 1998, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) filed a federal lawsuit against the USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services.  PCRM claimed that federal laws were violated when the USDA selected six out of the eleven people with financial ties to various food industries to serve on the Dieteary Guidelines Advisory Committee….[These] affiliations included the American Meat Institute, National Livestock and Beef Board, the American Egg Board, the National Dairy Promotion and Research Program, the National Dairy Council, Dannon Company (yogurt), Mead Johnson Nutritionals (milk-based infant formulas), Nestle (milk-based formulas, ice cream, condensed milk, and Slim-Fast (milk-based diet products.)  How dare they?” – Skinny Bitch

And continuing in that vein, even the US surgeon general has propagated questionable information.  “In the first-ever report on the ‘state of the nation’s bones,’ the US surgeon general warned of an impending ‘osteoporosis crisis’ expected by the year 2020.  In order to ward off this potential disaster, the Surgeon General’s report recommended three glasses of milk a day.  [The report was issued by] The Department of Health and Human Services.  Trust no one.” – Skinny Bitch

If you remember the information on dairy, drinking milk can actually cause osteoporosis.  These authorities who we have trusted all our lives to tell us what to eat have ulterior motives.  Do the research.  A long and healthy life is worth it!

Of course, the USDA has introduced a new directive now:  "Fill half of your plate with fruit and veggies, half with grains and protein, and get a little low-fat dairy on the side."  Better, yes.  But do you want to take their word for it entirely?

Have you looked around?  Does everyone look healthy to you?  Somewhere along the food chain something has gone wrong.  Marketers actually have experimented to appeal to our chemistry - to make us crave unhealthy foods so that they can make money.

Watch:  Food, Inc.  Check out PCRM's site to stay on top of current legislation and how to make a difference.  The more you look, the more you find that is VERY interesting...