ATE: Healing gut with Inulin, Berberine, L-glutamine

ATE: AWARENESS THROUGH EATING

After becoming an empty nester I had time and energy to ‘explore living food’ versus dieting. With only a question in mind (no rules and no shoulds), I started to explore what nutrition was available in my own backyard. The focus was on weeds, trees, plants and grasses. Organically it flowed, in that familiar pattern I have learned from Feldenkrais® Awareness through Movement® Lessons, so I have fondly begun to refer to it Awareness through Eating. My great regret is not having this focus with kids at home!

Along the journey of growing, gathering and consuming many backyard plants I discovered new sensations of physical wellness. With this new feeling of aliveness if fueled and motivated endless curiosity and exploration. Life changing as these actions integrated a deeper inner and outer connection to the natural world. A connection I wouldn’t haven’t known by previous experiences. This journey led me to a new definition of ‘being connected’.

Instead of following old patterns of gathering food resources I began to create new ones. That was the first step. The second step was creating with these backyard resources that led to new relationships with them. Eventually leading to an interest in exploring fermented foods in my own kitchen.

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

Immediately there was an improvement of gut health and brain function. Increased vitality and stamina followed with a decrease in emotions of anxiety, fear, pain and frustration. This experience led to a deepening connection to my environment with more clarity of the existing plants and animals. For me this means less distracted and more present to the moment.

Recently I was intrigued by a video’s content that was created by a celebrity. Someone I had witnessed years earlier being overweight with obvious movement and breathing issues. Now this same person was slim and seemed to be in better health. He had partnered in a new product. A product created to mimic foods he ate to become healthy. Curious I took time to listen to the ingredients that supported their healthy change. I was happy and surprised to hear that it was the same foods I had unknowingly introduced into my eating plan with similar results. Only they decided to create a supplement with those same nutritional values instead of continuing with the healthy real foods. I was disappointed to hear that as my perspective differs. I believe that taking a supplement doesn’t allow for the integration new behaviours. It simply contributes to the fix me attitude. Mentally it increases the chatter of self-judgment and of right and wrong thinking. This mental focus doesn’t have the opportunity to shift into the awe of the exploration as how this celebrity and I both experienced.

However, in support of some of my students these past years, who have taught me that sometimes they simply can’t take the time to explore the basics and integrate, I am going to share the top three nutrients that made the most significant change in gut and brain health. These three nutrients can be eaten each day for healing your gut that not only improves your brain function, it improves your immune system and both emotional and physical function. Included are the top real food sources of these nutrients.

Chicory Root & Sugar Beets

Inulin

Chicory Root
Sugar Beets
Leeks
Asparagus
Onions
Garlic
Dandelion Root
Elecampane Root
Bananas
Wheat

Berberine

Oregon Grape Leave & Roots for Tea

European Barberry
Goldenseal
Goldthread
Oregon grape
Phellodendron
Tree Turmeric

Sauerkraut

L-glutamine

beef
chicken
fish
dairy products
eggs, vegetables
like beans, beets
cabbage
spinach
carrots
parsley
vegetable juices
wheat
papaya
Brussels sprouts
celery
kale
fermented foods
- miso
- kimchi
- sauerkraut
- kefir

Remember:

We are what we eat

Whether we eat out or have groceries delivered organized with recipes for preparing it, that food becomes the invisible pathway stimulating an immediate experience (reaction) and future eating habits.

Environment created by food choices

When hearing the use of the term environment one’s thoughts may immediately go to the forest, sky, ocean, animals and plants. Many of us many not consider the food we consume is a part of the environment that stimulates us physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Food is the environment that fuels all your functions and each function has different nutritional needs.