As you know i meditate daily in morning times for an hour almost and before this i do some yoga as well, just few easier steps which help me to feel fit physically and mentally and have me ready for new day's challenges .And i am doing this since 2o13.
Throughout the years i have realized how regular yoga and meditation can make one feel calm ,stronger and much focused.
But there is a little negative side of it too. I won't call it negative actually ,not because in my perspective this particular "affect" becomes a way to add goodness in our life slowly, and if one can keep up with it for long results are awesomely positive. This Effect kind of force us to pick healthier option of food and avoid spicy and oily ones and skip the fast food completely and don't think of the sugary at all . Honestly i don't know what other have say about it but i have felt that long term meditation and yoga make our inner physical system quite transparent and sensitive which make us less or not at all tolerant to unhealthy food. I wonder if it happened to me only ?
Some years back i realized that the normal daily meals would make me feel slightly sick such as after eating meal i would get feeling of being fluish specially my throat will get scratchy, head heavy and vision little blurry .I would find it hard to concentrate whether on conversation ,book or things i look at. At first i would take panadol a tablet which helps to make "feverish" feeling disappear for a day at least. But later when i started to ponder that taking pill can not be a permanent solution apart from sever side effects for long use.
When we fail to find help outside we often inevitably turn inwardly to look for one .I wish we can develop this habit and look for help inside our head first where God has stored his "light" for us.
A little contemplation over this brought the issue under spot light. When i started to observe on daily bases i felt that each new day brings new feelings and emotions and it seemed deeply connected to what i had ate last day. I tried to look for proof to support my assumption and reading few articles related to topic confirmed that i was right about it .Then on the basis of my assumptions i started to eliminate food items form diet that i found to have negative effect.
With long and constant struggle i could reach to better side of existence. It is nice to know that adjusting little things can bring big and pleasant changes in life thankfully .I know being much "careful" about eating is tough but believe me once you feel how amazing the reward is for this sacrifice ,you love it most and never want to quit it.
During my recent visit to attend wedding ceremony of my cousin's children i became center of the attention for my cousin and her family members because i was denying to eat heavily oily and spicy foods at their home and at hotels as well where the major events took place.
My cousin looked concerned because she could not figure out what to do .She asked me what i would like to eat and when i told it seemed to disappoint her .I think this is because of a "host" mentality who wants to feel happier when feed her guests more and diversely. She actually made few simple things for me which were quite normal for a patient in her opinion. On first day i ate a little and found that even their normal food was too hard for me to digest. I asked her not to bother as she is already busy with responsibilities of two children's marriage and let me cook for myself .But she could not agree as i was her guest . Next day she sent a young pretty girl in my room .She was Saman ,a daughter of her husband's brother. Saman looked pregnant with early few months but she insisted she will cook for me until i am there .
I felt bit uncomfortable whether i made my cousin uncomfortable and she has to make special arrangements for me which my cousin denied by hugging me many times but one thing ,she would tell everyone my story and series of question would start with eyes full of surprise and kindred smiles .
I would love to know if someone is having same experience .
Thanks for bearing with me precious friends .
Health ,peace and Joy to you and to all you love!
I too have noticed that as people age, they often cannot eat the heavy, spicy or oily foods that we all loved when young. Our digestive systems age too, and often can only handle lighter things. I can't eat really spicy foods anymore and have to limit my fried foods too.
ReplyDeletealthough you have not mention you do any of these (meditation or yoga) dear Debra i think you are right about how aging limited our food and restrict our eating habits . but one thing i have noticed fairly that i have many people around who eat lot more than i do and they hardly take precaution for choosing food items regarding being spicy or oily .they say that their eating habits trouble them but not to that much extent as i feel probably or there is possibility that i hate more that restriction unhealthy food tend to put on my way of seeing world .but friend believe me there is lot about how people with such practices need to be more careful with what they eat because it affects their senses more negatively .i will try to share link of such article once i find them again
DeleteGood of them to try to help with your diet
ReplyDeletemy cousin is of my age dear Christine and eats whatever she want though she complains about health issues but she says smilingly "life is for once"
Deleteit was sweet of her to help me to have what was harmless for me indeed
There are certainly things we can do for a healthier life. You have some good suggestions.
ReplyDeletemost of things that can help us to live healthier life are given in our own hands by the grace of God dear Red .though we hardly pay attention to how we can progress by being conscious only
Deletefirst of all is breath control which is one of the easiest thing .all the stress we go through in life can be reduced by doing breath practice everyday for few minutes only and within few days one feels huge difference astonishingly because our thoughts are upside down by gases and enzymes and each Acts on breathing and turns it to lower or higher direction by making us feel excited over excited or low .siting relaxingly holding breath for some seconds in chest and releasing can d wonders to one's brain function .such a little effort but mostly we overlook it as trivial thing unfortunately
I like a little spice in some of my meals, but not too much.
ReplyDeleteI think it was nice of them to help you with your diet choices, something I would have done too :)
All the best Jan
Families say they want to help with your diet when you are there, but then they make a fuss. Some of us have to have special diets, no matter what the age. It could be because of dairy, or glutten and diabetes. On my last trip to the inlaws, she just looked at me that I was no exception. There wasn't even a veg in the house. And it took 2 days before I could go into town to buy my own food. Mostly I eat salads, and baked chicken breast. I brought back fruit for me and guess who ate all of it? It wasn't me.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't easy to see family and to say everything is fine as long as you eat whatever they have. And even at my parents they weren't much help either. So maybe that's why I don't like to travel. I like being at home and making my own food. I have found that I can't even use plain flour. I make my own from oatmeal.
oh dear Ellie first of all heartfelt thanks for sharing your difficult experience with us !
Deletei found it terrible that people hardly care for even their own family members . your in laws had no vegetables in the house which i take as they prefer meat .i think you or your hubby must inform them are coming over so they can arrange already .
this is even sadder that after two days what you brought to yourself was eaten by other who don't eat veggies otherwise??? wow such insentivity is hard indeed.
i want to add that next time you must probably buy your own stuff before going there some cooked and some uncooked so can cook later .i do this if i have to go to the hotel for food and i know there is nothing i can eat .
no place is like home on earth so true .
where i live people still have some moderate sensibility towards their relatives and care quite about their guests ,i bet in your part of land such people exist and more and you will encounter them someday my friend for sure
That's why I always prefer to stay in hotels, baili.
ReplyDeleteFreedom for me and others.
These days so many people can't eat this and can't eat that, that's the way it is and should be accepted by all people, seems the family didn't understand your total needs Baili. Our restaurants cater for all peoples needs as far as I know. When we have people come to stay with us I usually cook according to their needs and it's no trouble or a bother to me.
ReplyDeletefor men it is this case like you dear Pedro but women can't live alone in hotel until they have any family member along specially when they are visiting relatives they prefer to have good time together
ReplyDeleteI have to watch what I eat too. Gluten has become unwelcome in my diet. It makes eating any place but home or with close family difficult. It is good when people try to help with different foods.
ReplyDeletesigh for i am still stick to bread dear Marie
Deletei have quit all kind of pulses that doctor has forbade when i went to cure for uric acid .
i understand that though now that it is psychological reason for as well for not quitting the until now ,actually during fasting month one realizes that not eating bread is causing physical probably but again i think it is because in beginning changes are hard but once one is used to it ,things get better for sure .another reason is physical effort i put in household makes me feel right to eat bread .
i agree that when we are with family food we eat more vary so one does not feel to eat item including gluten
I love this post, Baili. I used to meditate and over the years have lost the will to do it. I should get back to it for sure. As for food. Oh yes, the foods I loved and ate no longer are made in our house. Greasy/fried foods are out. I use an air fryer now. I do eat a small breakfast and then we eat our main meal very early in the day. After that I don't eat anything but drink water. That has helped me. It was so nice that your cousin sent in a cook for you. Have a very nice day.
ReplyDeletei hope you will restart your meditation again dear Nichole ,i believe that meditation works for placing our thoughts on right place exactly a like shepherd to herd of sheep .It looks so simple and easy and mostly neglected therefore by most of the people but it's true value is know when one observe how it transforms people 's life who do it regularly
DeleteI am careful what things I put in my body. Part of it is because of my age and part is because of the stroke I had a couple of years ago. Like you I would simply pass by the foods I don't want and eat only what I can. We always hope others will understand.
ReplyDeletethis is great way to keep the track of what one eats because after "Breathing" this is second biggest reason that is responsible for INNER body environment .neglecting it results in many mental issues like stress ,anxiety ,forgetfulness ,breathing and eyesight issues and so on .
Deletewe should be grateful that God has put this in our hands how we let our food create our inner world traumatic or peaceful
I'm sure I left a comment yesterday?! Has it gone into spam folder?
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
precious friend Jan i just checked the spam box sorry for not reaching your comment there
DeleteHi, dear Baili! I'm finally getting back on line. Thanks for your lovely comments, as always. Kudos to you for figuring out how to feel better by examining your diet. I have spent a lot of time over the years considering nutrition. I've been watching salt for over 40 years and adding more and more things to watch as better nutritional information became available. Now I'm really focusing on making things from scratch (using less processed food). That said, for dinner we're having a low-sodium canned chili, lol! I'm wiped out and too tired to cook from scratch tonight. But we will have a fresh salad and fresh fruit. I'll be back to catch up! Just wanted to send you lots of love and hugs. By the way, I finished Reza Aslan's book "God: A Human History," while I was traveling. It was fascinating! Thank you for bringing it to my attention! Now I've got to go open that can of chili and improve it with some fresh veggies. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteHeartfelt Wellcome back to you my Precious Friend Louise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Deletethis is lovely to hear from you that you are feeling better ,may God keep you in his grace always amen!
i feel it is my responsibility to share my personal experience with people around me and with my blogger friends so if it can benefit them as well and it is my true wish and pray may it will !
unlike you i have been super careless about what i eat and honestly how much i .i would though would not like red meat ,mutton or dairy food but all the harmful food was my favorite and in abundance sadly like i would take plate of rice daily with bowl of thin red lentil because i loved it so much oh i can feel my mouth watering right now even i mention it .it was trauma to quit that dish ,but i am grateful i could find reason what was hurting me and correct it with guidance of light given by Divine!
i still can't go with salad only u have to eat bread though far smaller than earlier i used to take with whatever seasonal veggie i cook daily. but spices and oil is very less included now .
i love you from the bottom of my heart dear Louise you have been in my thoughts and prayers always specially since you were unwell . i am grateful you are recovering by the grace of God!
good you finished the very nice read and enjoyed it as well . I have finished another read recently by another Turkish writer Elif Shafak "Island Of Missing Trees" what a beautiful book so finely written i enjoyed each bit of it . i also wish you can begin meditation someday because it gives you power to hold your brain up awake alert so it can watch your body more attentively and this makes more than half reason disappear believe me which root diseases in our physical system .hope you will consider it my beautiful talented friend!!!
I am finding I no longer enjoy heavy meals or processed foods and they can make me feel bloated and tired.
ReplyDeletewith age our body decline the heavy food rich with oil and spices dear betty and all this is part of our inner defense so we can save our organs from harmful substances .
ReplyDeleteyoga and meditation awake one's physical intelligence which guide us amazingly what we eat and what not
I like trying new ways to stay healthy. Peace and joy to you too!
ReplyDeleteThat is best we can do dear Lux H: )
ReplyDeleteI have never had a big appetite and always like small portions. I have to be in the mood for strongly flavoured food.
ReplyDeleteSó volto para o ano.
ReplyDeleteDesejo-lhe um Natal cheio de Amor e um ano de 2024 com saúde e paz.
Um beijo.
Hello Dear Baili,
ReplyDeleteYour post beautifully narrates your personal journey with yoga and meditation, and how these practices have unexpectedly influenced your dietary choices. It's fascinating how your commitment to health and well-being has evolved into a more holistic lifestyle, leading to greater sensitivity towards what you consume.
Your experiences highlight an often overlooked aspect of wellness practices … the way they can transform not just our minds and bodies, but also our everyday choices, like food preferences. Your story about the wedding visit is particularly engaging, illustrating the social challenges and misunderstandings that can arise from such lifestyle changes.
What stands out is your introspective approach to understanding your body's reactions and making conscious choices about your diet. It's a testament to the power of mindfulness in recognizing and responding to our body's needs.
I truly enjoy your blog. Thank you, Baili, for sharing.
John
heartfelt thanks for kind comments full of encouragement dear John !
Deletei could not understand where my respond to your this comment go ???
i was bad and much eater of few things favorite things which hardly had much healthy choice .after diagnosed stomach ulcer i had to take full precaution what i would eat and than came last phase when my parents died within one year and i could not attend my father's funeral that was grave shock to for my mental health which affected body greatly but countless thanks to divine force whom i always kept in mind and seek refuge Only within Him always! he showed me way and within few years my meditation and yoga helped me to uplift my spirit and made me better person with deeper understanding of everything which means that if we keep basic little things Right all rest becomes easy ..and i really wish we all can get this amazing secret of life as well !
many regards and best wishes to you and loved ones!
It was very generous and loving of your cousin to try and accommodate your food preferences, Baili. I am sure she knows your appreciation.
ReplyDeleteI stay away from spicy foods of any type and also those deep-fried which pretty much eliminates all fast food places, and that is good. We do a lot of home cooking and always have vegetables included. Sometimes, figuring out what to prepare for dinner is difficult, that's why so good when there are leftovers from a previously prepared meal.
thank you dear Dorothy !
ReplyDeletei think this is best part about having cousin whom you grew up while playing that you don't hesitate to speak your genuine thoughts . otherwise i am quite shy and formal with other relatives specially regarding food etc
you are blessed to have positive approach about what you choose to eat dear friend and i think this is very first step anyone can take for self care .