Are you more evolved than the food you eat?

Consciousness is defined as being spiritually awake, aware of one’s relationship with one’s spiritual self (as God) and one’s human self simultaneously. Consciousness is awareness of Divine Ideas, Inspiration, and the Essence of God.

What does consciousness really consist of?

1)     The Conscious State: Occurs at the waking level, which is external active thinking

2)     The Unconscious State: Occurs at the dreaming level with subtle images and impressions

3)     The Subconscious State: Occurs at the deep sleep level with a focus on inactive thought patterns

4)     Consciousness: Occurs in the level of the absolute with equal permeation of all 3 levels

Your level of consciousness using David Hawkins Level of Consciousness Scale is not to be viewed as a blanket statement. You may have strengths in one area of consciousness and weaknesses in other area of consciousness.

Because humans have to eat in order to survive, food can be seen as a true symbol of power. The choices we make in how to eat determines the amount of disease we cause ourselves, which ultimately affects the long term of whether we survive with quality of life. Food struggles are linked to emotional baggage more than any other factor. This emotional baggage lies buried in your subconscious until deep attention is given to clear and remove emotions held in your body consciousness.

As we raise the frequency and vibration of our over-all consciousness we begin to operate with a freedom that no longer binds us to material parameters. This is why when one reaches a high level of Food Consciousness they no longer require counting calories, calculating grams of protein, or restricting such foods as fruits, which are high vibrational carbohydrates. When you reach that level of Food Consciousness your inner wisdom will draw you to the very foods that God intended for us (plants) Mother Nature’s bounty.

Just as plants make their own food for themselves from light, we too will do the same. As the collective consciousness rises in frequency, a transition from human being to sacred human will cause our gut/belly to mutate and change the physiology of how it now works. Within this human evolution it is possible for humans to eat less man-made foods and return to the natural world for real nutrition. Eventually, humans will stop eating meat and eventually stop eating plants and make their own nutrition just as plants do. With that metamorphisis our bellies will be less dependent for digestion, rather now the belly/navel can be a place one contemplates and digests their oneness with the cosmos

If you would like to know your level of Food Consciousness: Email shannon@mindurfood.com Ask for the Nutrition Response Test. Shannon will grade your test and provide a brief report of your level of Food Consciousness using the Hawkins Scale of Consciousness for FREE.

Food as Medicine - Tomato

“Tomato…is it a Fruit or a Vegetable?”

“He that takes medicine and neglects diet, wastes the skill of the physician”
- Chinese Proverb 

The healing power of foods is emerging from scientific research, due in large part to the growing interest of health minded consumers. In fact, foods provided by Mother Nature have no confusion at all with the life force within its creations. It is us, our human nature that has the tomato confused, seeing it as a vegetable when it is actually a fruit.

“Foods with a purpose” is a new term awakening in the food industry. In the scientific world these are known as “functional foods.” These foods supply a therapeutic health benefit beyond the traditional nutrients they contain to mediate many diseases of the modern age, as defined by the Institute of Medicine.

Tomatoes are fruits! Any food with seeds is classified as a fruit, even though we tend to consider the tomato a vegetable. We may be confused about what tomatoes are, but the tomato knows it contains a potent cancer fighting property within its fruity substance called lycopene. The tomato contains many other phytochemicals, mainly carotenoids and flavonols, which also have antioxidant activity. This matrix of phytochemicals, working in combination with lycopene, is the primary reason the tomato has superb health benefits and cancer protection.

In 1999, during the meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, Kuck O. et al presented a paper whose study showed a more direct relationship between the consumption of lycopene and prostate cancer. Lycopene protects against cancer by activating phase II enzymes, which defend against cancer activity.

You can get the most medicinal value from tomatoes by cooking them. Lycopene seems to be activated and becomes more bio-available when heated. Therefore, tomato sauce and spaghetti sauce become food choices that work within your body to protect your cells from cancer invaders.

Food as Medicine - Cabbage

“Cabbage, the Cruciferous Wizard”

“Let nothing which can be treated by diet be treated by other means”
- Maimonides

“Foods with a purpose” is a new term awakening in the food industry. In the scientific world, these are known as “functional foods.” These foods supply a therapeutic health benefit beyond the traditional nutrients they contain to mediate many diseases of the modern age, as defined by the Institute of Medicine.

The healing power of foods is emerging from scientific research, due in large part to the growing interest of health minded consumers. In fact, the foods provided by Mother Nature have powers greater than Harry Potter? If you were not aware of this….get on your broom and let’s fly away into the science and healing found within nature’s foods.

Cabbage is a force of nature with its powerful amounts of vitamin K and C. Just one cup supplies 91% of the recommended daily amount for vitamin K, and 50% of vitamin C. Believe it or not, cabbage supplies 11% more vitamin C than an orange. It is also a great source of fiber, manganese, and vitamin B6.

Cabbage also contains high levels of an antioxidant called sulforaphane, which fights free radical damage. Free radicals are like the core of a nuclear reactor. If it begins to leak radioactive material, it can be very dangerous to the surrounding area and our bodies’ DNA. Cabbage also provides double protection from “warlocks spells and curses” by stimulating enzymes that detoxify carcinogens in the body. Cruciferous veggies like cabbage reduce the risk of cancer more effectively than any other plant food group.

Try sauerkraut and improve your digestive health as potent probiotics work their magic! Cabbage builds strong bones and reduces allergic reactions. It also reduces inflammation and prevents plaque formation in the blood vessels like a cardiovascular sorcerer. The star of the show is the red cabbage, having seven times more vitamin C and four times more polyphenols than its green counterpart.

Did you know that cabbage was this magical…this powerful? We must remember that the right food can be medicinal – not just something to satisfy our taste buds. By eating more whole foods as medicine, we may just see those trips to the doctor become less frequent.

Check out: www.mindurfood.com

 

Local Austin people may order an autographed copy of the book Food Consciousness at:

shannon@mindurfood.com

 

 ***This article does not provide medical or any other healthcare advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Food as Medicine - Dandelion

“Dandelion…not just a Pesky Weed”

The healing power of foods is emerging from scientific research, due in large part to the growing interest of health minded consumers. In fact, the foods provided by Mother Nature also share with us the energy found in the resilience of a weed?

“Foods with a purpose” is a new term awakening in the food industry. In the scientific world these are known as “functional foods.” These foods supply a therapeutic health benefit beyond the traditional nutrients they contain to mediate many diseases of the modern age, as defined by the Institute of Medicine.

Weeds are defined by their tendency to flourish at the expense of human intervention. A dandelion is a plant that is a weed only within a certain context. In a sense, weeds are harbingers of uncultivated earth, pushing their way into the human order of gardens and well-ordered plots, undermining our human supervision. In the wild, there is no such thing as a weed because the overall vision is in the hands of Mother Nature, which accommodates and incorporates all forms of life. The next time you see a weed, you might want to look deeply into its roots, discover its name, its habits, and its possible uses, rather than seeing an unwanted intruder. You may be surprised to find, like the dandelion, this plant you call a weed can share with you healing properties offering its leaves for medicinal tea or its flowers for a colorful salad.

One cup of raw dandelion greens provides 535% of vitamin K and 112% of vitamin A, according to RDA standards. Dandelion greens are one of the best source of beta-carotene, and additionally a good source of vitamin C, calcium, iron, potassium, and fiber.

Dandelion has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine to treat kidney and liver conditions such as kidney stones, jaundice, and cirrhosis. Dandelion supports the entire digestive system as a natural diuretic. The properties in the dandelion increase urine output and help flush toxins and excess salt from the kidneys.

Inulin, found in dandelion, is a natural soluble fiber, which is also found in the Chicory root. Inulin not only has a surplus of fiber, but also has prebiotic properties that provide healthy bacteria for the intestinal tract. Dandelion roots, leaves, and pectin are all parts of the plant that provide various health benefits to our bodies. Dandelion is excellent for reducing edema, bloating, and water retention; therefore it helps reduce high blood pressure.

Dandelion greens are considered a specialty item in some areas, which can be difficult to find if you do not have a Whole Foods Grocer in your area. They also have a pungent taste, a flavor people either like or dislike. But here is a tip for you to try in order to incorporate dandelion is your eating plan. If the raw leaves are too bitter for you, try lightly steaming or sautéing them; heating seems to calm the bitter components in the leaves in order for your palate to accept and enjoy.

The dandelion is more than a weed….it is a plant that provides remedies and bountiful health to our bodies, thanks to its tenacious existence as a weed.

“Leave your drugs in the chemist's pot if you can heal the patient with food”
- Hippocrates

Check out www.mindurfood.com

Local Austin people can order Food Consciousness (the book) at: shannon@mindurfood.com

Weight Loss....always part of New Year's Resolutions. Why?

Before I give you my first blog for the New Year….I want to announce that the blogs for 2013 will focus on a new theme called “Food as Medicine,” which is an aspect of eating from your Higher Self in a state of mind you know as Food Consciousness. I will also intersperse some spiritual titles and themes as the year goes along. Be Well……may you find vibrant health body, mind, and soul.

Our bodies are living temples, and they deserve all the loving care we can give to them. This should include as our number one priority….eating consciously (from our Higher Self with Consciousness). Our bodies allow us to experience the world at different levels of longevity and quality, depending on how we treat it. Unfortunately, our bodies have had to act as the proverbial compensator because most Americans don’t treat or embrace their bodies as a temple. Are you not feeling your best? Have you put on some extra weight? Have you had to buy a new wardrobe because your waist line has increased? Do you continually go on the latest diet because the last one and the one before that was not sustainable?

You can make the choice to be good to your body and eat consciously starting today – if you are willing to go within and stop looking for answers outside of yourself that tell you to count calories/points, starve yourself eating less than 1000 calories, or eating pre-packaged food that isn’t even food.

The Standard American Diet (SAD) includes: 62% processed foods and sugar, 25% animal proteins/products, 10% fresh produce/plant foods, and 2.5% whole grains.

 A Conscious Eating Plan includes: 62-67% fresh produce/plant foods, 25% whole grains, and 5-10% animal proteins/products, and 2.5% processed foods/sugar.

Going to our center and practicing being in the silence are the first two steps that move us to create conscious choices and work from a deeper place of improving our health and embracing our bodies as temples. From this place, we can be gently honest with ourselves about the reasons we over-eat, eat certain foods, and follow the tribal mind of the Standard American Diet (SAD). Our bodies have a great wisdom within them when we pay attention and do not follow the tribal mind conditioning we were socialized with. A Food Conscious mindset invests in love and attention to the care and support of a beautiful creation that helps us experience this thing we call life with longevity and grace.

Women are told we cannot lose weight as easily as men, NOT TRUE!

We are told that once we reach the age of 35 our metabolisms become slower and slower, NOT TRUE!

We are told that if we want to lose weight we have to work out like maniacs, NOT TRUE!

 We are told that if you only have 10 to 15 pounds to lose - its harder than if you’re obese, NOT TRUE! 

How do I know this???? I switched to a mostly whole food/plant based eating plan to clear up my digestive issues and without it even being my intention – I lost 15 pounds within 4 months doing no exercise due to back pain. I now weigh what I was in high school and have kept if off for a year easily. When you eat as God intended these “untruths” are no longer barriers…..that is the real truth! 

Contest:

The first (13) people to provide two answers (both correct); to the one question below – will win an  E-version of my book Food Consciousness. Email your answers to shannon@mindurfood.com. Make sure you email from a viable and active email address as this will be the address the E-version of the book will be electronically sent. Only if you are a winner will you be contacted. The contest will go on until (13) submissions have correct answers. The conclusion of the contest will be announced on Facebook.

What makes a plant based eating plan easily bring forth weight loss and vibrant health?

#1 PHYTO - __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ S  

#2 MICRO - __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ S

Know Where to get Good Nutrition Information

There is a vast amount of mis-information on what constitutes good nutrition in this country. I am going to point out some of the misgivings that will become more obvious to you as you continue shifting to your True Self/Higher Consciousness that recognizes "real truth." I am going to provide you guidelines to use in order to decipher intellectually whether or not the information you are hearing or reading about involving good nutrition can be relied on as truth. American’s nutritional information has been compromised by “nutritional experts” who construct the standards of good nutrition (The Four Food Groups and the Food Pyramid), and at the same time, sit on boards of big food and biotechnology companies. Therefore, providing the real truth to Americans is in conflict with the big food company’s profits and agendas. Imagine these experts telling Americans that a mostly wf/pb based eating plan was the most favorable and healthful eating plan to adopt. What would happen to the dairy industry (milk/milk product) and the meat, poultry, egg, and seafood industries? Obviously this change in nutrition policy and guidance would not be good for the profits of these billion dollar industries, just as stop smoking bans have affected the tobacco industry which was killing people for years on end. Americans are confused about good nutrition because science seems so unreliable. However, science isn’t perfect because the human body is so complex and the nature of scientific research that is supposed to be curious is sometimes hi-jacked by scientists who have an agenda and are looking for their study to be well received. Add insult to injury, and we have medical doctors that are not trained to prevent or reverse disease in medical school; instead they are trained to heavily rely on pharmaceuticals and surgery. If nutrition were better understood, and prevention with natural treatments were more accepted by the medical community, we would not be trying to save people’s lives through pills and surgery in the late stages of deadly diseases. The status quo has miserably failed and it is time to make a shift in our food consciousness toward eating from our Higher Self by eating Mother Nature’s bounty of a mostly wf/pb eating plan.

The answer of where or who to get good nutrition information from is not simple, but I will give you a framework of guidelines to help you decipher if you are getting the truth.

Guideline #1 – Check Your Source

Look for proper credentials (Ph.D, MS, RD, LD, LDN). If someone claims they are an expert without proper credentials, be wary. A certification in nutrition without a degree in nutrition means that individual spent minimal hours compared to an academically trained individual. Chiropractors or nurses teaching nutrition seems reasonable, but they are not  experts and neither are M.Ds. Personal trainers and Life Coaches are typically among the worst sources you want to get your nutrition advice or plan from, although Americans seem to do so a lot. Be careful of individuals who do not have a nutrition degree, who interpret research. First of all, scientific literature has a language of its own and the average person is not going to be able to understand or interpret most nutrition studies. Look for the academic institution where the persons earned their credentials; there are a lot of online degree programs these days, which do not hold the reputations of brick and mortar colleges and universities. Tufts University and Cornell have one of the most prestigious nutrition programs in the country and of course there are others. If your source is an organization, do not assume that if it is a government agency that you can rely on the information to be true. If the information from a government entity is raw data like the USDA National Nutrient Database or Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity Values (ORAC) – then you are pretty safe with that data being reliable. Otherwise, look to organizations that conduct research like the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) or independent watch dog organizations like the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) for more reliable and neutral advice and recommendations. 

• Guideline #2 – Listen to the Language Used

If the information being presented is sensationalized with words “like poison or supernatural,” be wary. If it sounds like a panacea, be wary. If it sounds like it’s a magic bullet that requires restriction, special foods, or a special routine, be wary. If the information sounds “black or white” with no grey area, be wary. Look for information that can present both sides of an issue or provide an outcome or opinion that is passionate, but balanced at the same time. There is a difference between presenting vague information and neutral information, you want neutral.

• Guideline #3 – Always be Cautious

Be a super sleuth! Do not take information to heart without taking time to look into it more. If your intuition is making you wonder, that’s your Higher Self asking you to check in with your resonance of truth, just as I did with the Stanford scientist for the Atkins study.

A Conscious Cleanse can be Transformational

Most cleanses involve starvation, but a conscious cleanse goes far beyond the narrow emphasis of other cleansing programs that offer just food intake strategies, tonics, or pills. A conscious cleansing plan integrates mind, body, soul, and only whole food. A conscious cleanse is a holistic approach to cleansing that is a rare gift, encompassing a process that is more involved than the usually unconscious route of just focusing on foods, tonics, restrictions, and starvation.

Why do I believe in a cleanse? First, it is a way for your body to recharge, rejuvenate, and renew. The word cleanse stems from the word clean. Therefore a cleanse will clear your pipes, and  “clean” your cleansing organs along with laying down a foundation of new healthy flora for your gut (just as a gardener lays down nutrient rich soil). Once you embrace a state of food consciousness which encompasses a mostly whole food/plant based eating plan, a cleanse prepares your body to fully absorb and receive Mother Nature’s bounty more than if you did not make the choice to journey on a cleanse. 

Second, a cleanse is much more than a nutritional body cleaning, it is also a spiritual experience. I recommend either a 4 or 7 day cleanse of ingesting only whole/raw plant foods and plants in freshly blended juices, smoothies, soups, salads, or raw state. A conscious cleanse may bring up  emotional and soul level layers that require your attention to go to your center, use meditation, and utilize energy healing tools. Feel your feelings fully….you may want to journal what comes up for you and the food combinations that excited this transformation. Explore and love what is awakening in you, as your cleanse may feel difficult to complete because your mind may play games with you by trying to interfere with the process and make you feel uncomfortable. As with most spiritual experiences, your cleanse will connect you deeply with your body, mind, and soul which offers you improved energy, mental clarity, and anchoring to your God-self. Cleansing has the potential to awaken your body to heal on many levels. Almost every religion has some type of fasting or cleansing ritual – Lent, Ramadan, Yom Kippur, and the Buddhists and Hindus as these spiritual teachings recognize purification within starts with food energy.

A body cleanse is an ancient practice of the Egyptians and the Greeks. They would target specific organs that can putrefy and produce toxins and then utilize a cleanse with plants to purify the body and detoxify cellular accumulations that would otherwise harm the body. Our bodies naturally cleanse every day. It is a normal process that goes on within the cleansing organs of the skin, colon, liver, lymphatic system, and lungs. These systems and organs perform functions on our behalf every second of the day just as our heart beats without any thought given to that physical miracle beating in our chests. However, modern life and the tribal mind of socially conditioned eating interferes with our natural cleanse, hindering what our bodies truly deserve. Pollutants, chemicals, and other synthetic substances have burdened our natural cleansing system with more than it can handle. Therefore, the body has made an adjustment of storing these toxins in body fat, which is stored in a manner outside the regular elimination system, so we do not get poisoned. As you can imagine, these adjustments our bodies make because of our unconscious choices are not good for our health in the long run. 

You are what you eat….and what you have eaten and not eliminated! Animal foods and animal products such as beef, pork, chicken, turkey, fish, shellfish, milk, dairy products, and eggs all create acidic blood. Other foods that affect your cleansing organ systems are: sugar and sugar substitutes, baked goods, processed and fast foods, soft drinks and sports drinks, alcohol, coffee, prescription drugs and recreational drugs, cigarettes and other forms of tobacco. A conscious cleanse relieves the body of the stagnation that is created with foods that metabolize acidicly and elevates the soul with clean pure energy from Mother Natures bounty.