Benefits of a Healthy Diet |
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The benefits of a healthy diet reach far beyond our physical well-being. Eating healthy and (conversely eating poorly) also affects our emotional, mental and spiritual well-being and, ultimately the well-being of our planet. We are spiritual beings housed within earthly bodies which are our temple.
It is our lifework to respect and care for our temple and, our world.
Caring for this body/temple in which I live has grown along with my awareness of myself, my God and my world. I do not pretend to be an expert on the requirements of the human body but I personally know the benefits of a healthy diet far outweigh the short-term ‘enjoyment’ of junk foods or fast foods.
Years ago, I recall feeling sick from over-eating yet another turkey dinner (you know the feeling, right?). Then, another time, I felt nauseous after gorging upon a huge, sticky cinnamon bun; and then again I felt sick after eating greasy fast-food chicken. After repeated incidents like these (each time vowing to never do this to myself again) the benefits of a healthy diet began to sink in. I slowly made lifestyle changes that have lasted a lifetime.
I do not over-eat. I stay away from big sugar fixes (I do indulge in my homemade cookies or muffins) and I simply do not eat fast food (and have ZERO desire to do so). It is interesting – whatever you get used to – you get used to! Why not get used to food that supports your well-being and the planet's?
My healthy eating practices are based upon eating moderately; and eating organically and locally as much as I possibly can (this includes an occasional chicken from a local farmer). I enjoy eating locally and organically because I know the benefits of a healthy diet is good for me, my family, community and the world. This is intrinsic to my lifework.
When the average North American sits down to eat, each ingredient has typically traveled at least 1500 miles from farm to plate according to research cited on the
100milediet.org website.
Clearly, the oil, gas and other resources used to put a head of lettuce on our table from 1500 miles away is not sustainable. This is where the idea of shopping locally - within 100 miles of your home (commonly called the 100 mile diet or rule) is a huge step toward sustainability and is a clear benefit of a healthy diet.
Why is local food healthier? Great taste and full nutritional value are benefits of a healthy diet founded upon buying local, organic produce. Most local produce is picked within the past 24 hours and is ripe, fresh, full of flavour and nutrients. In contrast supermarket foods may have been picked weeks in advance and are often picked green to withstand the abuse of industrial harvesting and long-distance shipping.
Buying local, organic foods benefits your community. Small farms and hence, the local economy is supported. In this we can help the family farm and jobs thrive rather than more fast food chains and box stores. A British study tracked how much of the money spent at a local food business stayed in the local economy, and how many times it was reinvested. The total value of buying locally grown food was almost twice the contribution of a dollar spent at a supermarket chain.
“A study in Iowa found that a regional diet consumed 17 times less oil and gas than a typical diet based on food shipped across the country. The ingredients for a typical British meal, sourced locally, traveled 66 times fewer “food miles.”
Shall we do our part in saving the world or keep burning fossil fuels, fuelling global climate change, the fiercest hurricanes; worst fires, droughts, heat, flooding in history and watch more wars over resources?
Avoid most refined, packaged, or ‘fast’ non-nutritional foods and instead, eat as many fresh, organic, local foods as you can. The benefits of a healthy diet based upon eating organically and locally will positively impact your health; your community; and the world.
As aspiring spiritual beings it is our lifework to make choices that support our health, our communities and the health of our precious planet.
Want to avoid toxins in the human body and our world? Read about choosing an organic diet and reducing toxins at
benefits of a healthy diet.
The purpose of my Lifework Mentoring program is to help you hear the voice of your True Self - your Inner Guidance. Only when we are connected to our True Self (God, Higher Power, Inner Guidance, or however you choose to define this) can we live our life authentically and fully express our gifts.
My Lifework Mentoring program is about you uncovering your answers from within. It is not about me supplying so-called 'expert' answers for you.
My Lifework Mentoring is about creating sacred space wherein your soul feels safe enough to speak its truth. I’ll reflect your inner wisdom – your holy music - back to you. Through listening to our soul speak we come to know our truth and then, can more readily follow our deepest calling.
"Teresa, thank-you so much for sharing your strength and wisdom with me -- and for giving me a gift I didn't really realize I needed -- permission to truly express my authentic self and to tell the world who I really am and what I offer. For that I am truly grateful." Jan Moore, MACertified Retirement Coach |
Each of us has our answers within - sometimes we just need to listen more deeply, practice more patience, solitude, reflection, contemplation and sharing with someone who listens and cares. For many people - friends and family cannot offer this type of mentoring or support when the time has come to listen to one's own truth above all else.
Within my Lifework Mentoring I offer suggestions and practices for you that have brought me closer to my True Self, and have resurrected my mission and my passion from the ashes. Most of us simply need someone who can reflect our “holy music” back to us and encourage us to follow our True Self. It is so easy to overlook our own ‘God-ness.’
Please visit me at "Lifework Mentoring" if you would like to find out about our introductory, 30 minute, complimentary Lifework Mentoring session.
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If you're enjoying our site and would like nudges calling you back to your true self you'll appreciate reading our “Living Your Lifework” E-book.
Like our site the articles within this e-book are about living our daily lives with depth and sacredness. We are all being called to listen to our spirit, heart, intuition, intelligence, life wisdom and soul to live authentic lives and follow our deepest calling.
Please read the Table of Contents, including the recently added chapter on “Reclaiming Your Passion” at "Living Your Lifework" e-book.
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With warmest regards,
