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12 Ways Gluten Cross Contaminates in the Kitchen

9/12/2019

Gluten is sneaky. Like pollen, gluten has the ability to cross contaminate easily throughout our kitchen. Those who have a mild intolerance may not have issues with contamination, but those with severe life-threatening issues like Celiacs may need to be more cautious as the slightest bit of gluten triggers symptoms. Those with severe issues may find that eating out is impossible as restaurant kitchens cannot maintain a GF standard, unless the restaurant is specifically gluten free.

It is recommended to thoroughly clean kitchen appliance, or have separate appliances for those with severe issues. Here are some ways that gluten cross contaminates in the kitchen.

Toaster: A crumb is just a crumb, right? Wrong. Even the smallest crumb stuck in the toaster can get onto gluten free bread, so try toasting in the oven or use separate toasters.
Scratched Baking Sheets, Muffin/Bread Tins, Nonstick Pans: Many people do not realize that if a pan or baking sheet is scratched, gluten gets trapped inside of those scratches. It is best to not risk it and buy new pans.
Cast Iron Pans: Iron is a porous element, and will soak up any gluten cooked inside of the pan; thus, gluten clings and sticks to cast iron pans.
Colanders/strainers/steamer baskets: The small holes inside the colanders are perfect locations for gluten to get trapped inside. Strainers and baskets are often difficult to clean and some will. never be 100% clean after its first use.
Wooden Utensils + Cutting Boards: Cutting Boards get scratched and knicked all the time, which is the perfect hiding spot for gluten. Wooden utensils like spoons and rolling pins are porous, which soaks up gluten.
Bread Makers: If anyone uses a bread maker that contains gluten, it is not advisable to use the same one to make gluten free bread to avoid cross contamination.
Sponges: Although it seems like sponges clean, which they do, they also can spread gluten especially if using the same sponge to clean dishes and wipe down the counter. Using disposable wipes or paper towels with cleaning spray is best for cleaning counter tops, meanwhile leaving the sponges to clean the dishes. It is recommended to use a "GF" sponge to solely clean the "GF" kitchen appliances.
Spreadable Condiments: It is important that a person does not share utensils inside the condiments, but also on gluten products. If a person spreads GF mayo on top of wheat bread and then places the utensil back into the GF mayo, the mayo has now been cross contaminated.
Pre-Sliced Deli Meats: Most pre sliced and prepackaged contain spices or additives that contain gluten. This will contaminate the meat slicer at the deli counter. It is recommended to purchase pre-sliced meat + cheeses.
Bulk Bins: Although everything is separated into it's appropriate bin, one never knows how much cross contamination actually happens between refilling bins and using scoops inside bins that contain gluten products.
Deep Fryers: At restaurants, most likely they are using fryers to deep fry gluten containing foods like French fries or anything with batter. If the restaurant has a specific "GF" fryer most likely it'll be okay, but gluten will remain in the oil and deep fryers. The oil would need to be replaced, but most likely that does not happen at busy restaurants.
Handling Foods: Sandwich makers or anyone working in the kitchen who touches gluten food and then handles a "GF" meal can easily cross contaminate gluten. It is advisable that gloves and knives be changed and hands washed between handling gluten and GF products.

What other ways do you know of gluten spreading in the kitchen?

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3 Steps to Transition to a Plant Based Diet

9/10/2019

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There are countless ways to transition into a plant-based diet (vegetarian or vegan). Most people can benefit from adding more plants to their diet, but if serious about a lifestyle change most people can't do it with a "cold turkey" switch.

Whether you want to become vegetarian or vegan, most people need to gradually ease into that style of eating. Smokers cannot quit smoking overnight. The same is with our diet and palate. We have biological cravings that our body is adjusted to, especially if older. If are are 35 and were raised eating meat, this means you lived nearly 100% of your existence eating meat or dairy (minus the nursing infant years of mother's milk / formula).

These three steps I use to help my clients who want to transition - Add, Replace, Eliminate to adjust to a pallet switch.

-First: Add Produce to Meals
-Second: Replace the meat Protein / Dairy / Simple Carbohydrate Sources
-Third: Eliminate the Remaining Meat/Dairy sources once Palate is Adjusted

There is no timeline for each step or zone. Graduating from one step to the next is an individual process.

Add
While eating your normal diet, this is the time to start adding produce to meals. This doesn't necessarily all have to be raw produce, but just adding produce to cooked foods aides the palate adjustment. It adds bulk to the meal so some less meat / simple carbohydrate will be less consumed. In the video above I share examples of how to add produce to meals.

Replace
Most people today eat too many simple carbohydrates. If transitioning for health reasons, this is the time to start replacing to healthier choices as well as gradually replacing meat / dairy sources. An example of this is to replace brown rice with white rice. Another example is if you eat cereal, can you switch from cow milk to almond milk. Soy meat products have a different taste, even something like chickpeas is an ideal replacement for chicken. This stage is a gradual process.

Eliminate
Once your palate is adjusted and feel comfortable eating plant-based foods, this is the time to eliminate the remaining meat / dairy sources, or foods that no longer serve you from your diet. I explain more in the video above.

How have you transitioned into a plant based diet? What worked for you?

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The Hidden Sources of Wheat & Gluten

9/6/2019

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It is no secret that many people today suffer from a gluten intolerance. Whether one has a serious disease like Celiac's, or has a mild intolerance, wheat and gluten can be found in a myriad of food and home products. Those who are trying to heal from gluten intolerances may have a difficult time because gluten is found in medications, kitchenware items, cosmetics and can also be cross contaminated in the kitchen.

If you notice issues after consuming wheat products, contact your doctor to undergo gluten allergen tests.

Here are the following food sources that contain gluten.

USDA Products: The USDA is in charge of meat, poultry and dairy. They are not required to follow FALCPA guidelines; therefore, many products containing dexterity, starch, maltodextrin and modified food starch contain gluten. Products that contain as little as two-percent meat or poultry may contain gluten (think of canned soups). Other boxed / meat products that may contain gluten include, instant milk products, malted milk, hot chocolate mixes, commercial chocolate milk, cheese spreads, blue cheese, sausage containing fillers, hot dogs, beer brats, meat spreads and imitation crab / fish.
Gluten Containing Grains: This includes wheat, rye, barley, durum, einkorn, emmer, faro, kamut, semolina and spelt.
Seasoning / Spice Mixes: Many spice mixes contain gluten as a carrier for the spices. Pure spices do not contain wheat, rye or barley.
Extenders / Thickeners: This is used in packaged foods and may contain gluten. An example is "modified food starch."
Bottled Sauces / Salad Dressings: Many of these products use a stabilizer, wheat protein or a thickener which contains gluten such as vegetable gum, hydrolyzed wheat starch or wheat flour.
Soy Sauce: This product contains gluten unless otherwise stated. Tamari is gluten free.
Malt: Barley malt contains gluten and may be listed on the ingredient label as barley malt, malt, malt extract, or vinegar.

Modified Food Starch / Gelatinized Food Starch: Sources of the starch must be identified on a label. Wheat is used a starch, but gluten free options include potato, rice or tapioca starch. Corn starch is technically gluten free, and the FDA regulation imply "starch" as corn starch. If a different source is used it should be identified with the ingredient list on the food label.
Hydrolyzed Food Starch: Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), hydrolyzed plant starch (HPP), Texturized vegetable protein (TVP) are not technically gluten free because they can be made with gluten. HVP may be present in bouillon and soup bases.
Dextrin: may derive from wheat. The two largest manufacturers of dextrin in the USA use corn starch, which is gluten free.
Flavorings: Meat products and packaged foods may contain barley malt flavorings. Natural flavoring should be confirmed with the manufacturer to ensure the product in gluten free.
Caramel Color: Caramel color made in the USA derives from corn. However, if the product was made outside of the USA, it may contain gluten.
Beverages: Many beverages contain gluten such as instant drinks, fortified wines (Port, Madeira, Muscatel), beer, ale, malt liquor, root beers made from beer brewers may cross contaminate gluten into non-alcohol beers, and some teas may contain gluten.

Medications: Hidden sources of gluten can exist as a filler (non-active) ingredient in many prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Read the label or package to determine the ingredients in the med. Double check with the pharmacist. If the product contains "starch" the source must be identified (remember if it comes from corn, rice, potato or tapioca it is gluten free). Every product contains an 1-800 number. Call and ask, "What is the source of the starch?" and "Is the medication coated with any wheat, rye or barley ingredients?"
Use glutenfreedrugs.com as a personal source.
Personal Care Products: Over the years feminine and household products have had low-traces of wheat and gluten. This includes mouthwash, toothpaste, lipstick, chapstick, shampoo, conditioner, tampons and cosmetics.
- Gluten can be found in cosmetics under these labels:
  - Wheat marked as "wheat" or "triticum vulgare"
  - Barley marked as "barley" or "malt" or "hordeum vulgare"
  - Rye marked as "rye" or "secale cereale"
  - Oats marked as "oats" or "arena sativa"

Information comes from Bastyr Center for Natural Health Nutrition Care Team.

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Life is a Series of Patterns

8/29/2019

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Have you ever heard that history repeats itself? Have you ever noticed patterns in nature? Or ever noticed the same patterns pop up in your life?

If so, you are not alone. It happens to everyone because life is a series of patterns.

“Mathematics is the beautiful language of the universe.”

Whether you are looking at the stars, or the patterns on a leopard, everything in nature has a pattern. The season itself follows the same pattern, year after year. The Fibonacci sequence appears in many places in nature from flowers to shells to the vegetables we eat.

Everything in life has patterns, which roots to mathematics. Even astrologers say that there are patterns in the sky that repeat itself.

Ironically, some astrologers found that around 2016 we were entering the same star alignment as World War II. Although history did not repeat itself entirely, similar themes were present. This is part of the reason why history repeats itself.

It's not necessarily a literal interpretation, but more of metaphors. Throughout history wars, class-ism, colonialism, poverty cycles, population-sweeping plagues and social movements are seen continuously through history. Some claim history doesn't repeat, but rhymes. Regardless, similar situations surface from the past.

It's like a Hollywood movie, same story different actors. When understanding this from a metaphorical standpoint, one begins to see history repeat itself.

“When you are paying attention to your thoughts, words, actions, feelings, food habits, reactions, decisions, secrets, patterns, and physique, you start tuning in consciously.”
― Dr Prem Jagyasi

Patterns even exist within us. Our behaviors have a pattern. How you think, react, behave, respond etc. all has patterns. The negative patterns need to be analyzed and changed for improvements.

Ever wonder why you attract the same situation or type of people in your life? It is probably because life will send you the same patterns until you learn your lesson and change the pattern. An example are emotional eaters. They get triggered by an external issue and then find themselves coping their emotions with food. The feel good hormones will only let you feel good for so long.

“Pay attention to the intricate patterns of your existence that you take for granted.”
― Doug Dillon

In matters of the heart, i believe our souls are here to graduate from various experiences. We are often sent the same types of people or situations to force us to change and break the pattern. The ones who refuse to change (or say learn a lesson like standing up for themselves).

Regardless if your patterns show up in work or your personal life, each person must be accountable for their own actions and behaviors to understand why these patterns keep taking place.

If you notice the same pattern starting, consult your intuition and take its message seriously. I used to think that my past experiences prepped me for that current experience, but what I realized was that the current experience was merely a pattern repeating itself, and it was up to me to repeat the pattern, or walk away and graduate. Many of these patterns forced me to do something I didn't do in the past like communicate about my feelings, stick up for myself or progress my self worth by not dealing with the same situation anymore.

You shouldn't ignore patterns. Patterns are telling you to either try something, fix something or remove something from your life.

Most of what we attract occurs on a subconscious level. Many people may be happy externally and think positively, but still attract the same negative patterns.

Why is this?

-Many patterns are learned behaviors from childhood and passed down from our parents. Example: If one parent brings up an issue, the other parent who is emotionally defensive may react impulsively and begin screaming. The child, in adult years, may learn that when fighting with a spouse, aruging and yelling is the automatic response to work through the issue.

-Personal Vibration - Many people are not aware that they attract many negative people or situations because they themselves are operating on a lower vibration (guilt, shame, lack of self-worth), which attracts people on the same wave length.

-Patterns force us to grow. Sometimes reemerging situations come about for us to analyze the past and heal the wounds and trauma.

-The DNA remembers trauma, wounds, heartaches and broken time periods. Some situations may feel comfortable or normal to us. Example: Drama / chaos addicts can't live in peace as much as they want to, and unbeknownst to them may stir up drama and chaos subconsciously because this is normal. Or what is in our DNA is constantly thought about stirring in our mental and emotional bodies. What we think, sometimes we attract.

Patterns are around us, and within us. It is up to us to consciously analyze our life and take control of what we can control - ourselves.
What do you think about patterns?

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Sunspiration #121: Emerging of the Artificially-Induced Consciousness

8/25/2019

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The mundane human thinks of my mystical, spiritual beliefs as eccentric, and maybe even crazy. There is a point after years of spiritual development that one begins to view the world differently.

I believe there is a battle between the artificial and the natural world. And today, humans are so addicted to their technology that they are clearly operating from an artificial consciousness. They have been influenced or socially engineered by the master mind manipulators.

My soul fights for the natural world, as it has fought for many causes in former lives. Today, I challenge people to see how ego-centric they've become and how their lives, health and mindset differs today as compared to before the birth of mass technological use.

Take a moment and think how artificial we've become. Artificial ingredients. Processed food. Synthetic fibers. Pharmaceutical drugs. Virtual Reality. Video games. Pornography. Reality TV. Drama-inducing media. E-books. Bitcoin. Worshipping Hollywood. Chronic selfies about our lives being amazing. Machine-operated warehouses.

We are being manipulated to become the walking dead, or zombies, mindless spiritually-dead humans inside a clinically alive body.

How far down the rabbit hole do we want to go? Or are we already too deep?

As always, inspired by the sun,
Elizabeth

Join Mind Body Soul Food Every Sunday for some inspiration, or Sunspiration, where we analyze quotes and sweet nothings in 150 words or less. Get inspired everyday with our Instagram account, sunspiration_everyday with inspirational quotes, motivational messages & sweet nothings.

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Do People Really Change?

8/20/2019

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This is one of those million dollar questions. Do you think people change?

I think yes and no. People can change, but it has to come from within. Like a budding flower, that burning desire has to come from within to want that seed to germinate.

Some people change. And some people will never change. To some degree, everyone has a baseline. It takes attitude, character and a non-judgmental analysis on your life in order to change. That is what self-actualization is all about.

You have to want to change. So many people in today's world are open to changing jobs, careers and changing their material status, but they are not open to changing their attitude, belief systems, character or developing themselves spiritually.

I think change requires a mix of spiritual and psychological analysis. If people took the amount of time they spend watching the television, playing video games or "flipping" through Facebook, on improving themselves, the world would be a different place. Some souls are here to change the world, but most of us are the regular Joes that keep society afloat.

Change is not a quick fix. It is a journey that is a process of highs and lows. It is self accountability.

The first step to change is to become aware. As you analyze your life, you will need self-awareness without judgement. Most people sabotage themselves because they are stuck in this mindset. Blaming other people for your problems or believing t hat change can't happen is a negative mindset. We are what we believe.

Some people are aware of their issues, demons, or problems but still don't change. Why is this?

Most people desire a quick fix. I see this in the diet industry all the time. Try this 30-day detox to lose 30 lbs. in weight." It's a hack, but not a permanent change. Humans need a no nonsense commitment to change. Most people today want hacks, not commitments.

it's the moment in quiet self-reflection that the higher and lower mind unite to make this commitment. It is the unity of the physical, mental and emotional body to realize that work must be done.

Change is not easy nor is it comfortable. It forces you to get out of the comfort zone. I am an advocate for balance, but depending on the change, some people have to go cold turkey. With the hardest addictions like drugs, sex, alcohol or cigarettes, most people can't live in moderation. They are not wired that way. A heroin addict can't just shoot up once per week. They have to go cold turkey and focus on the therapy that gets them healthy again.

Fear, rigidity and self-sabotage hinder one's growth process. Discipline and commitment is the hardest for most, which is why they slip back into old behaviors. And this very thought makes people wonder if change is even possible?

Genetics and environment plays a role on how adaptable one is to change. The older people get, the harder it is to change. It is still possible.

Spiritually, I've met people who had near death experiences come out of those experiences completely different and remove and walk away from the negativity in their life. It took nearly dying for them to "wake up" and change. Sometimes it takes a murderer in prison to read the bible, repent and realize how their life was changed because of spiritual teachings and finding God.

There is no one path to change, but it is possible. In this world. anything is possible.

What do you think? Do people change?

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7 Now Common Addictions that Modern Day Humans Have

8/13/2019

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Addictions is nothing new to the human race. In the past, when thinking of addictions, most people think of people have an addiction to drugs, sex or alcohol. In today's digital world, humans are experiencing various forms of addictions like never before, which have created many to become emotional high addicts. Once high, you need more and more of the source in order to fulfill the hormonal flow going on in the brain.

As mentioned in a former blog post, Is Love the Most Powerful Force on the Planet?, in the past, our ancestors only experienced highs from procreation, sex and child birth.

The sad and scary part of today's addictions, is that many of these addictions are warping man's minds, creating real-life monsters, psychopaths, zombies out of many people's souls.

According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, addiction is, "a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations. This is reflected in an individual pathologically pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other behaviors.

Addiction is characterized by inability to consistently abstain, impairment in behavioral control, craving, diminished recognition of significant problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships, and a dysfunctional emotional response. Like other chronic diseases, addiction often involves cycles of relapse and remission. Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death."

It is common for people to have more than one addiction today. In fact, some people trade in one addiction for another. I had a Dietician friend who worked in a bariatric clinic and had "arguments" with the doctors as she expressed this is a psychological, and not just an addiction to bad food. She found that post surgery, many of these people traded in their food addiction for gambling, alcohol, smoking or some other negative habit/addiction. Another example is that research has found that people who have sex or love addictions or trauma, also have eating issues / addictions.

The point is that many issues root to a spiritual and psychological warfare.

Here are some addictions that plague the modern man's soul that goes beyond drugs, gambling, sex and alcohol abuse.

Video Games
"Gaming disorder" is a serious issue today, especially amongst techies. Introduced in the 1970's, games today are far from the origins of the "Oregon Trail." Today gaming addiction is seen on the same level as gambling. Now that games are available 24/7, most people are hooked, playing for hours everyday instead of once at the arcades.

Research is still trying to figure out as most believe gaming addiction is a type of impulse control disorder. Some have the thrill of winning which releases dopamine, a brain chemical that elevates mood and provides a rush of energy. Many question what games do the subconscious mind as most games today are violent and include mass killing. Games "encourage" a sedentary lifestyle, which further isolates people from humans. Some people can play games and never be addicted, but most people fall into the rabbit hole and get lost in, or addicted to, a virtual reality.

Pornography Addiction
Porn is one of the major issues today, which affects more men than women. Today's porn is nothing like it was 20-40 years ago. For many, watching porn starts off as innocent but can eventually lead to a "dangerous" place mentally and socially.

Porn has four stages as noted from Diagnosing and Treating Pornography Addiction. Dr. Victor Cline provides a model of pornography addiction with 4 progressive steps:

Addiction - A person compulsively views pornography.
Escalation - As time progresses, the addict requires more extreme, more deviant material to get the same effect and satisfy the compulsions.
Desensitization - The addict loses their perception of what is socially acceptable. Illegal material or those considered taboo, immoral, or repulsive seems "normal."
Acting out sexually - "...an increasing tendency to act out sexually the behaviors viewed in the pornography, including compulsive promiscuity, exhibitionism, group sex, voyeurism, frequenting massage parlors, having sex with minor children, rape, and inflicting pain on themselves or a partner during sex."

When watching porn (or having sex) dopamine is released to a region of the brain responsible for emotion and learning, which stimulates craving. Once you desire this craving, you know where to obtain this craving - through porn. Norepinephrine is also released, which is adrenaline. Endorphins are released, which is the body's natural "high" hormone that releases pleasure into the body. Oxytocin and vasopressin are also released, which binds a person's memories to the object that gave him or her pleasure, and has long term memory affects on the cells.

When the final sexual fluids are released, the body secretes serotonin, which promotes relaxation and calmness. Overall, porn hijacks the brain and short-circuits the system.

Love Addiction
We all dream of falling in love with Mr. or Mrs. Right. Some people, like adrenaline and outdoor junkies, have an addiction of falling in love. They love the high one gets from the initial stages of romance, but once the honeymoon phase wears off, they discard the relationship, in search for the next perfect person. Some love addicts put their partner on a pedestal and put more energy and attention towards them than themselves.

At the core, many love addicts have this fantasy that their partner will rescue them, and provide them unconditional attention at all times, resolving any issues or problems they have. When in love, love encompasses their entire existence. They have a fear of being alone or rejected. The excitement of new love, triggers the release of these neurotransmitters, stimulating the brain’s reward system. Most love addicts have issues from childhood trauma or a lack of love from their youth, which needs to be resolved. Some of this I believe has been programmed in our heads from chronic Disney fairy tales from our youth.

Shopping Addiction
Consumerism was a great experiment, and guess what it worked. In today's decadent society, many people are addicted to shopping and finding something new. Compulsive shoppers experience a euphoria when purchasing new goods. However, like the hedonic treadmill, the euphoria wears off, but needs to be refilled with buying something else. Endorphins are released, which blots out discomfort.

It is said that compulsive spending or shopping affects about six percent, or 17 million people, of the US population. One root of the problem is the lack of control one has in their life or on their impulses.

Exercise Addiction
Believe it or not, exercise can be addictive. There is a reason runners get addicted to running because of the "runner's high." There is a tipping point, when healthy exercise turns into an obsession for whatever reason. Some may exercise hours per day because they fear getting fat, or want to lose weight because they think they're fat. Some exercise because of control in their life where others use exercise as a replacement to some other addiction.

Food Addiction
Marketers and modern day boxed foods have done a GREAT job at controlling the US population. Some people have a poor palate addicted to salt and sugar, but most have emotional eating issues. These issues lead to consuming high amounts of comfort food or actual eating disorders themselves. Whatever the root cause of the issue is, the brain is affected by emotional eating disorders / impulses.

The American Addiction Center states, "The brain is designed to react to a specific amount of dopamine, researchers say, and when it is provided with a dopamine signal that is too big, changes can result. The brain can turn off dopamine receptors, to muffle the next overeating onslaught, and that means people might eat even more during the next session. Dopamine feels good, and a rush feels wonderful. People who want that rush might need to eat more to get it.

This is the same cycle of dopamine flood and response seen in people who take drugs like heroin or OxyContin. These people also need to take in more to feel the same rush, and these people find it hard to stop taking drugs. Similarly, people with a long history of overeating might also find it hard to stop, due to the brain’s changes. These people are not making the choice to overeat. They are dealing with damaged brain cells."

Workaholics
This is a tough addiction to identify because some people are born to work and make a difference in this world. Some people's lives and identity revolves around work. They don't have hobbies and everything else in life is secondary. Some work so much because they are security junkies. Some workaholics are perfectionists and are their toughest critics. When work controls the life of someone, it is important to step back and analyze how your job affects your life.

Have you suffered from addiction? Do you know of any "uncommon" addictions that are becoming more common in today's digital age? In college, I suffered from exercise and some form of food addiction, which is in part the reason why I wrote, "Finding Om: An Indian Journey of Rickshaws, Chai, Chapattis and Gurus." so people can heal, discover pieces of their psychology and find the connection to their spirit all while enjoying this crazy thing we call life.

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Sunspiration #120: Transmuting & Ascending From Hurtful Situations

8/11/2019

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The spiritual world is much like the mundane, material world. In the real world, we graduate from schools and universities and get promotions at work. The spiritual world is the same with life purpose lessons.

Overcoming negative, traumatic or hurtful situations is not easy. But we have a choice to learn and grow from it, and graduate our souls to the next level or experience in life. Living a life in vengeance or an "eye for an eye," will not leave anguish and despair in your soul, but you'll continue to manifest the same situations until you "get it." Many people who do not ascend end up leaving a carbon footprint by destroying others.

Think of a tyrant boss who's soul is suffering from some personal issue, and at work they use their power and control to destroy the wellbeing of their employees. Those employees, with no boundaries or spiritual backbone, go home and vent or take their stuff out on their family, which could potentially ruin the marriage.

Those who overcome their hurt and use empathy, and forgiveness (but not forget) transcend and graduate to the next step in life. How does one do this? With various tools in healing, counseling, yoga, meditation or spiritual development. The goal is to rewire the brain and begin to tap more into the higher mind.

As always, inspired by the sun,
Elizabeth

Join Mind Body Soul Food Every Sunday for some inspiration, or Sunspiration, where we analyze quotes and sweet nothings in 150 words or less. Get inspired everyday with our Instagram account, sunspiration_everyday with inspirational quotes, motivational messages & sweet nothings.

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The Difference Between the Higher Mind & The Lower Mind

8/7/2019

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We perceive and interpret countless thoughts throughout the day. Many people do not realize that we have two distinct levels of our mind. The higher mind, and the lower mind. The two levels of mind are in operation at moment in time. In order to live an optimal life, a balance of both is needed.

THE LOWER MIND – FEAR, DOUBT & DISBELIEF

The operations and movement of life on planet earth are usually interpreted through our lower mind. The lower mind is the concrete mind, which focuses on logic, reason and fact. Because it is factual in nature, the thinking is very linear (which logic usually is), and keeps us in a limited belief cycle. Because the lower mind is limited coupled with facts based on past limitations, this keeps us in the same cycle of accessing limited beliefs.

The lower mind is the representation of our wounded or damaged ego. Some say this is the deception part of our mind because it convinces the ego we are limited and are separate from universal power and truth. Manipulation results as the ego believes in needs to lie and cheat his or her way through to success.

The ego has many layers but include two prominent gateways, the inferior and superior ego. The inferior ego is the part of having a low self-esteem and not thinking you are good enough or worthy. The superior ego is the part of thinking that you are better and smarter than everyone else, and no one can do the job like you can. If a person is aggressive and violent and has a superior ego complex, he or she can become dangerous.

Physiologically speaking, the reptilian brain also known as the instinctual or dinosaur brain, is the lowest part of the brain. The reptilian brain is based on autopilot survival modes of fight or flight. The lower mind activates the need to procreate and mate and to stay safe.

Spiritually, the lower mind houses negative thoughts and emotions. Fear also operates here, which triggers negative thinking and behaviors. This is why movies, the news and video games have such an impact on our brains, because it instills fear and triggers lower mind thinking.

This is the part of us that is skeptical, analytical, materialistic and opinionated. This keeps us in our old patterns, belief systems and ways, which does not encourage growth and faith. For some, they’ll continue to repeat the same karmic patterns until they’ve learned to tap into the higher mind.

Since the lower mind operates on logic, the business world, financial establishments, schools and governments are mainly operated in this level of thinking. Therefore, so many people are losing “faith” in these organizations because nothing ever changes in these establishments besides the date and some new faces.

THE HIGHER MIND – PURE KNOWLEDGE & DIVINE DESIGN

The higher mind is the gateway to our soul and intuition. This is the part of your mind that your higher self is communicating through. The higher mind surpasses ego, transcends boundaries and holds universal truths. This is the part of the mind that knows no matter how difficult the situation is, we are loved, worthy and continuously protected and guided by the divine and God. This is the part inspired by beauty, vulnerable emotions, aspirations, ideals and archetypes.

The higher mind is the entryway to genius ideas, creative power and innovative ideas/solutions. Your intuition communicates to you through your higher mind. Positivity and the silver lining perspective also speaks to people through their higher mind. Many things in life are illogical because spiritual experiences are not always linear or concrete like our lower minds tend to analyze. The higher mind does not worry about the “how.” It knows a change or something will occur, but “how” it will happen is not the worry.

THE HIGHER MIND IS

OPTIMISTIC
GENEROUS
LIVES IN /RESPECTS THE PRESENT
BALANCED
COMPASSIONATE
AFFIRMING
TIMELESS
CALM / AT EASE
ABUNDANT MINDSET

THE LOWER MIND IS

PESSIMISTIC
SELFISH
LIVES IN THE PAST / FUTURE
UNBALANCED / EXTREME
CRUEL
NEGATING
RESTRICTED
FEARFUL
SCARCITY MINDSET

THE KEY TO LIFE IS BALANCING BOTH MINDS

The higher and the lower mind continuously plays mind games. Most people need to break the habit of hanging out in the lower mind. When the lower mind is triggered, some people react with visceral emotions or impulses and are like wild animals needing to be tamed.

The goal is to calm the lower mind, and began to tap into the higher mind to receive answers and guidance. If people can open the lower mind, but allow leadership from the higher mind, many profound changes can occur in life. Imbalances occur because people tend to live primarily in the higher or lower mind.

Artists continuously tapped into their creative power sometimes cannot navigate on planet earth. Those continuously living in their lower mind will never ascend because of fear or believing in that there is nothing better out there for them.

One example is say someone is a sugar addict or a smoker. The body feels like crap long term and eventually the higher mind is going to start “crying” and request that the body start eating healthier or stop smoking. Using logic, one may start to research support groups, cessation products or a health coach.

A person who experiences childhood trauma may feel permanently lost or damaged enough to where they unworthy of love and acceptance. These people tend to live in the past and need to focus on changing the present and connecting to a higher source for help and healing. The higher mind can lead them out of mental anguish and despair, but it takes a while to retrain the brain and rewire the neurons to get out of negative thinking patterns.

What are your thoughts on the higher vs. the lower mind?

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Old-Fashion Ratatouille

8/6/2019

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Memories live inside us. Good or bad, memories have a way of uplifting or plaguing a man's soul. And I'll never forget the time spent in Nice, France. It is one of my favorite cities in the world. Part of my soul thrives in the ocean, and with it's Roman, Greek and Italian influence, Nice is a place of its own.

Words cannot describe the feelings and aura of Nice. At sunset, the ocean is like a canvas painting. The old town is as beautiful as a rose garden in the summer. And the food recipes are as ancient as Rome itself.

Check out my travel images + stories from my travel blog, The Lemon Tree. Discover more at: 20 Amazing Photos from Nice, France that Will Stir Your Soul

Ratatouille is a French Provencal stewed vegetable dish that originates in Nice, France. There are many versions of it, but usually it consists of eggplant, bell pepper, zucchini, onion, garlic, tomatoes and local green herbs for flavoring. The dish originated in the 18th Century and "touiller" means "to stir up."

I made this the old traditional way of stirring vegetables in a pot to simmer. In modern times, food bloggers create beautiful circular arrangements of squash and zucchini for baking, but the easier and less time consuming way is to make it like they did in the 1700's.

Enjoy!

Old-Fashion Ratatouille
Cooking time: 20-30 minutes
Serves: 3-4

Ingredients:
2 tbsp olive oil
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1 small onion, chopped (used purple)
2 peppers, chopped (any color, I did one red + one green)
1 very small eggplant, chopped
1 yellow squash, chopped
1 zucchini, chopped
1 14.5 oz can of crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
1 tbsp fresh oregano
2 sprigs of thyme
salt+pepper to taste

Directions:
In a pot, cook the onion + garlic in olive oil for several minutes. Add the eggplant and peppers and cook + stir for several minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer until edible and fragrant. Continue to stir so the vegetables do not stick on the bottom of the pot.

Enjoy as a side dish or part of the main course.

Let's Connect! Enjoy my other recipes below!

Lemon Basil + Arugula Pasta

Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables

Agave-Mandarin Roasted Rainbow Carrots

Yum

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A Journey into Thought & Spirit

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― Dr Prem Jagyasi

“Pay attention to the intricate patterns of your existence that you take for granted.”
― Doug Dillon

You shouldn't ignore patterns. Patterns are telling you to either try something, fix something or remove something from your life.

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THE KEY TO LIFE IS BALANCING BOTH MINDS

Old-Fashion Ratatouille

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A Journey into Thought & Spirit

“Mathematics is the beautiful language of the universe.”

“When you are paying attention to your thoughts, words, actions, feelings, food habits, reactions, decisions, secrets, patterns, and physique, you start tuning in consciously.” ― Dr Prem Jagyasi

“Pay attention to the intricate patterns of your existence that you take for granted.” ― Doug Dillon

You shouldn't ignore patterns. Patterns are telling you to either try something, fix something or remove something from your life.

THE LOWER MIND – FEAR, DOUBT & DISBELIEF

THE HIGHER MIND – PURE KNOWLEDGE & DIVINE DESIGN

THE KEY TO LIFE IS BALANCING BOTH MINDS

Author

Categories

Archives

“When you are paying attention to your thoughts, words, actions, feelings, food habits, reactions, decisions, secrets, patterns, and physique, you start tuning in consciously.”
― Dr Prem Jagyasi

“Pay attention to the intricate patterns of your existence that you take for granted.”
― Doug Dillon