Using the body’s intelligence to understand the foods we eat
“Eat this, not that.”
“You should try…”
“My friend told me…”
“He said…”
“She said…”
How often do we hear statements like these about food or regarding a supplement? It always seems to be an external source telling us this is good for you or that is bad for you. But, how often do we hear “I feel like this is good for my body...” or “I feel like my body needs…”
Feel. What a powerful word. Eating and making food decisions has become an external decision. We learn and hear about that latest and the greatest on TV, and from the news, magazines, friends, etc. Most of the time, they conflict. This can get very confusing and may cause more harm than good.
Our hunter and gatherer ancestors relied on instinct to identify nourishment. Generations upon generation later, we still have the same guiding tool. Today, we call it Neuro-Lingual Testing (NLT).
The tongue connects to our central nervous system and acts like an extension of the brain. When we place something in our mouth that is harmful or stressful in some way, the body elicits a physical response, such as an increase in heart rate. The hunter and gatherers used this technique to choose foods that supported and sustained their lives.
Today, we walk into a grocery store and assume everything in it is edible. Do you think that is really the case? Certainly not. Over the years, 75,000+ chemicals have been added into our food supply. Food dyes, artificial flavoring, natural flavoring (which is not so natural, by the way), pesticides, preservatives, denatured fats, genetic modification, the list goes on and on…
We can use NLT to identify foods that create a negative or stressful reaction. It is a simple technique that you can try with any food, beverage or supplement.
Directions to determine if any food substance causes a stressful response in your body:
* Sit down in a kitchen chair, relax and take a deep breath.
* Take your pulse for one full minute and record that number. (This is your baseline pulse.)
* Place the “test” food in your mouth. Hold it on your tongue and be sure not to swallow it. Keep it there for at least 30 seconds. (It is more effective to test a single item versus one that has several ingredients.)
* Retest your pulse keeping the “test” item in your mouth and record it.
* Discard the “test” item and be sure not to swallow it after recording your pulse.
* An increase from your baseline pulse of three to four beats per minute is a sign that your body responded to the “test” item as stressful.
* If you responded stressfully to an item, rinse your mouth out with purified water and spit it out.
* Wait at least two minutes until your pulse rate returns back to the baseline number.
* Begin with your second “test” item and repeat the directions.
It is a good practice to seek out foods that do not cause the body stress or harm and begin to understand why your body responds stressfully to any specific food item. Note: Test results may be invalid if you are taking a drug that controls heart rate.
Food cravings, overeating, the need for sugar or other stimulants like coffee, are examples of your body communicating with you. Our bodies are far more sophisticated than we give them credit for. They are working 24 hours a day, seven days a week to maintain balance. All we have to do is learn to listen and respond appropriately.
Begin to notice how your body feels, what foods you crave, and how your body responds to what you eat. The foods we choose to eat can be driven by the body’s desire to maintain balance. Start to unravel the language of your body. Neuro-lingual testing is one way to enhance the communication process. Another way is to simply observe and notice.
When we bring our consciousness to something, doors open. Have you ever been apartment hunting? You searched online and traveled around the city looking. Did you notice “for rent” signs even after you found your new abode? Consciousness is energy directed toward something.
When we slow down just a little and pay attention to what our bodies need for balance, we make conscious choices. Eating then becomes an empowered decision – one that contributes to health, well-being, and a deeper connection to Spirit.
If you are interested in learning more about your body and how it responds and communicates with you, open the door to listening…to observing…to feeling. The answer has been part of you all along.
Originally published in New Spirit Journal: http://issuu.com/newspiritjournal/docs/newspirit_journaljan10?mode=embed&layout=http%3A//www.newspiritjournal.com/issuu/white/layout.xml&showFlipBtn=true
(c) 2010 Vibrant Horizons
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