Nutrition: The Basics

Last month I decided to have a one-on-one sit down with my main guide, Shihad, on nutrition. Of course, we all have many guides, and they too help answer these questions, but because I've asked my main guide to funnel the info, and for the purposes of our written language, I'll address my guide as Shihad, but know that it embodies them all. We hear all sorts of stuff on diet, nutrition, what's good, what's bad, that it can get quite overwhelming. Even local news stations seem to have something new that we should or shouldn't consume every other week. Out of curiosity and because I specialize in health, I wanted to hear it from Shihad directly. I've compiled the answers to my questions in this blog post - the first of possibly many, for you to enjoy and share. Some of this might be obvious, other points perhaps less so. Lastly, I want to reiterate the fact that this was a general Q&A. This does not mean that there aren't exceptions to any of this. Our bodies, environment, soul journey and choices vary so much, we have to expect there to be differences. Now that that's out of the way, let's dig in!

The first and most obvious question I started with was the best overall diet for people. Does it even exist? And the answer was just as obvious: whole foods that come from Earth. No, this isn't a plug for veganism (nothing wrong with that!) since processed foods aren't the way to go. We won't die eating processed foods but they can wreck so much havoc on our bodies that we basically break it down to death. Processed foods just do not support our bodies the way whole foods do, and are used as a control mechanism from the powers that be. What better way to control people by keeping them focused on sickness and death? Not only that but it can also stifle your energy frequency. While there can be issues with whole foods, such as the pesticides used, the benefits far out measure processed foods, even with pesticides. The intricate relationship of minerals, fiber, macros and vitamins in whole foods mirrors the intricate relationship of the body, not only between the physical, mental, spiritual, but also the organs, muscles, tissues, blood, etc. 

Consuming meat seems to be a large debate everywhere and the main point that was driven was that how meat is harvested matters. The energy (emotions) the animal is feeling when it's being killed matters. When a cow sees the cow in front of it slaughtered and feels fear, that fear is stored in the cow's body and we consume that. That goes for any animal. Fish can sometimes be worse than land animals when the water they're farmed in is polluted and they're in a constant state of stress their entire lives (often with commercial fish farms). One of the interesting things Shihad mentioned with fish is that they have a lower level of awareness/consciousness. Consuming large quantities of fish is like surrounding yourself with people with a lower awareness/consciousness and taking on their energy as your own. Hunting wild animals (with a quick death) and fishing in open and cleaner waters is far better than consuming the standard meat you find at grocery stores, yet unprocessed meat from a grocery store is still leaps better than processed meats, like chicken nuggets and fish sticks. If you haven't noticed yet, many people who reach high levels of spiritual awareness, tend to stop eating meat, and this isn't only for ethical reasons but because their energy frequency gets lighter and their bodies therefore want lighter foods. Shihad also stated that the emphasis of protein and vitamin B12 is overrated and overemphasized. It's not to say they're unimportant but that we don't need as much as we've been told we do. 

Nuts, legumes, and seeds are all good. Corn, too, but to make sure you choose non-GMO corn. Oils, butters, sugars, and alcohol can be consumed sparingly. Cooking in oil and butter everyday is not sparingly. Having dessert once a week is. There is no hard rule to this. Birthdays, weddings, holidays, vacations and reunions are all times of celebration where we may cast what we know on health out the door. Where our diet should matter and our choices made consciously is our day-to-day meals. The 80-90% of what we eat is what's important, and it'll make those celebratory moments have minimal, if any, negative impact on our bodies. 

There was one last point that Shihad wanted to emphasize above all else: our mindset on health is way more important than we ever give credit for. If we have a restrictive mindset when losing weight, it won't matter that you snack on healthier nuts (than chips for example). The restrictive mindset will not only encourage subconsciously snacking more to make up for what you feel is being taken away but it'll also mirror back more of 'needing to restrict' (gaining weight in this case). People will have far more success when the mindset is shifted from restriction to asking yourself: what's my healthiest option? What nutrition does this give me? What does my body need in terms of nutritional value? How can I get the most fiber? (Supplements are not the answer by the way, I got 'waste of money' when asking about it).

Lastly, keep in mind that your diet doesn't have to be black and white 24/7. If you're starting at a really unhealthy place, just look at the next healthiest option to make an easy transition. For example, step away from white flour and move towards whole wheat. Step away from cookies and ice cream and move towards a single, small piece of healthier dark chocolate. Replace brown sugar on your oats with cinnamon and vanilla. For some, making a huge leap is their first step, and for many others, these small steps are far more easier and sustainable. Don't look to the side at what others are doing and can do but just ahead to your end goal. 

And a huge thank you to Shihad and all my guides for sitting with me and inspiring me to write this up. I only take half credit for this wonderful transaction.