Maintaining mindfulness is a power punch to stress and anxiety, still some days are easier than others. Fueling your body with foods that are nourishing is one way you can help yourself maintain an awareness in your thoughts, habits, and feeling. When feeling down many people make the mistake of turning to comfort foods, despite knowing that processed foods loaded with chemicals, salt, and sugars are toxic. digesting simple carbs, extra salt, and processed chemicals add an extra stress to the body. It could be called a hidden stress because digesting chemicals and extra sugars has been a norm. Like getting over a bad cold, you don’t realize how well you are until after illness has passed. There are many simple things you can do keep your body-mind healthy and balanced. You might still feel like going back to the old, at times, but once you the benefits of eating healthier kick in, the old “comfort” foods will simply be a part of the way you used to eat.

Some things you can do to keep your body balanced will also add to your mindful practice. Thinking about what you put in your body works with the Law of Attraction. A little thing like choosing a fresh meal over processed food attracts health to the body. A healthy body is less stressed and feels good.

Eat Greens or Drink Green Juice

When I first started making my own green juice, I could barely get it down, also, I was worried that the neighbors would complain about the smell. They didn’t, and after a month of drinking it, I started craving it. Also, when I make my own juice, I get a jolt of feeling really great. The store-bought juice just does not compare. Search juice machines online and you’ll see that you can get a small but mighty one starting near $60. For one person a mini juicer along the lines of a Magic Bullet is a good starting point.

If making at home is not an option, see if you can find a nutrition bar in your neighborhood where they’ll juice it up for you. Joe and the Juice, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, or Jamba Juice are great, friendly places to get started.

If you’re still not convinced here’s a list of reasons to try adding green juices to your diet.

1. Rich in nutrients: It provides an easy way to get some benefits of eating more vegetables.
2. Promotes hydration: Especially if it contains water-rich vegetables like cucumber.
3. Aids weight loss.
4. Promotes digestive health.
5. Lowers inflammation.
6. Easy to digest.
7. Alkalizes the body, enhances detoxification, and supports a healthy immune system.thegoodinside.com

Eating Organically

Eating organic foods will provide more choice than simply adding green juice to your diet. Choosing a variety of organic foods reduces toxins while giving you the choice of a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, and proteins. Cooking food yourself that’s been grown organically is one of the most mindful gifts you can give to your body and to your Self, and yes, as corny as it sounds, to the climate, the environment, and the world as whole.

Some of the benefits of using organics are:

1. Reduced exposure to pesticides and insecticides.
2. Increased exposure to omega-3 fatty acids.
3. More nutrients.
4. Fewer hormones and antibiotics.
5. Reduced pollution.
6. Conserves biodiversity.
7. Promotes sustainable agriculture.
8. No synthetic additives.
9. Fresher produce

One of the things I love about eating organic is that it’s easier to include great tasting foods and create great homemade dishes. It’s known that homemade dishes contain fewer calories and processed foods. Then, there is the added benefit of making your food with love, with awareness, it’s another way to add mindfulness to your life.

Organic foods can be found in your local grocery store. If you want to support local farmers, check out the local mom and pop fresh produce store, they are everywhere in most cities. You can also visit Farmer’s Markets and co-ops.

Drink Apple Cider Vinegar

Again, the smell and the taste, but the feeling in your body afterward! I usually start with 8 oz. of cool or room temperature water and an ounce of ACV. I Add a splash of raw honey and then guzzle my good tasting superfood drink. I try to slurp it down in the morning to jumpstart my day and balance the acid from any coffee I may have.

Apple Cider Benefits Include

• 1. High in acetic acid Acetic acid is vinegar’s primary active compound, giving the strong sour smell and flavor.
• 2. Can help kill harmful bacteria Vinegar can help kill pathogens, including some strains of bacteria.
• 3. Not proven but appears to help lower blood sugar levels and manage diabetes

Eat the Rainbow

One of the greatest joys in life is eating marvelously delicious food. Meaning, we do not have to stop eating comfort foods altogether, our busy lives do not easily lend themselves to excluding foods, and there are always going to be days when you reach for that bowl of ice cream. Still, eating more vegetables, cutting out processed foods, and adding heathy habits like juicing or drinking apple cider vinegar are simple effective ways to practice mindfulness. Being conscious of what you eat and why you are eating it go a long way towards changing your habits about food, helping you make choices that taste good, make you feel satisfied, and improve your mental and physical health.

These are few things you should consider excluding or cutting back on in your diet:

simple sugars – cut back or exclude cane sugar (table sugar) and include more raw, unfiltered honey, maple syrup, or stevia

simple carbs- French fries are great, but potatoes are loaded with starch and other sugars that break down in unhealthy ways. Choose brown rice over white rice, multigrain or whole grain bread over white bread, or even whole wheat bread. Whole wheat bread is simply unbleached white bread and is missing the healthiest part of the grain.

Excess caffeine – Try to keep your coffee intake to a minimum, your body will thank you for removing the unnecessary acid, and the addictive caffeine.

Things to eat in moderation

In the end food should be enjoyed! Make your changes naturally and in your own time.

Namaste