Meditation for Becoming Aware of Body & Breath

Day 10 of the Raw Vitality July Group Cleanse. This is a sample of one of the meditations included in the 30-day Raw Vitality program. 

Meditation is a powerful tool to restore health and balance to your body, mind and spirit. Meditation helps to relax and calm you, balance your internal processes and helps to break through challenges and obstacles that stand in the way of achieving your health goals and intentions. Meditating daily is one of the keys to managing your stress in a healthy and effective way.

Isn't it amazing how little we pay attention to our bodies and our breath. When I first do the body meditation with my clients, they often comment at the end, that they lost track of time and they began floating as they relaxed every part of their body and mind. Remember that we have this resource available to us at any time! You can always come back to any of these practices in your mind and even repeating just a part of it will calm your mind.

Today, we're going to bring awareness to sights and sounds. Sit up straight and begin as always with your breath meditation or open awareness in the present moment. Now bring attention to your gaze. Notice, the world around you is vibrant with color! We often fail to notice that our world is in High Definition. The textures and colors around us are alive and powerful.

Look at the world now with new eyes, as if you've opened them for the first time. Stay here for a minute.

Now bring your awareness back to breath. Let your mind settle and then slowly start to become aware of the sounds you are hearing. Perhaps you will immediately notice the sound of a clock, bird, or car outside that you didn't notice only a moment earlier. Listen to the richness of these sounds and stay here for a minute.

Notice as much as you possibly can and practice "no preference". Just simply observe the beauty around you without thoughts, interpretations, or labeling. Practicing this in the park can be extremely pleasurable as well. Feel free to take a break from work today and do this practice again.


Now set your timer for 5 minutes or more and practice alternating from breath to sight back to breath and then to sound meditation. 

Daily meditation for Raw Vitality presented by Life Warrior Training Systems www.lifewarriorcoaching.com

Join our next group cleanse coming in September 2014!

Raw Vitality is a holistic health system that provides you with all the tools, education and support you need to prevent and reverse chronic health conditions naturally. Raw Vitality teaches natural eating principals, healthy stress management practices, balanced, consistent, exercise, green living strategies and the use of medicinal herbs.  We teach and offer everything you need to restore and maintain your health in a natural and balanced way through ongoing group cleanses, holistic health workshops, teaching programs for industry professionals, cooking classes, individual cleanses, natural and organic products, education and support to help you heal and reach the highest levels of health and vitality!

Get a free taste of Raw Vitality with 10 Fresh, Fast & Healthy Raw Vitality Recipes at www.rawvitalitytotalhealth.com

4 Steps to Reversing A Root Cause of Health Problems

In natural medicine we look for the root cause of health problems. Addressing the root cause helps us to reverse and prevent health conditions naturally.  All health problems are rooted in toxicity, deficiency and oxidative stress. We address all these root causes of health problems in the Raw Vitality holistic health system and cleanse. Deficiency of key nutrients is one of the most common causes of health problems. 

While we have grown accustomed to judging what we eat by the number of calories we intake, that view causes us to overlook one of the biggest contributors to health problems in our country, deficiency. Here is the U.S we are deficient in key and essential nutrients our body needs in order to ward of sickness and disease, to remain balanced, to have high energy levels and attain and maintain superior health. The body's health is only able to maintain health when there are sufficient quantities and quality of all the nutrients it needs to rebuild itself and continue to be healthy.  If any one of these nutrients is not supplied sufficiently, there is an immediate slowdown in physical function. When deficiencies continue for an extended period of time, it creates substantial negative consequences in the body and causes a gradual weakening of the body's resistance and overall health. A lowered overall resistance in our body also makes us highly susceptible to sickness and disease. When you body is suffering from nutrient deficiencies it functions less effectively and eliminates wastes and toxins more poorly and contributes to higher levels of toxicity, another common root cause of health problems. Health problems of all kinds come into existence as the body is overloaded with wastes and toxins and is suffering from deficiencies. Did you know a common health problem like depression is often rooted in a deficiency of B vitamins? B vitamins are made within the intestinal tract of the body, which is often impaired by the types of foods we eat and high levels of toxicity. This is one example of a deficiency contributing to a health problem. Almost all Americans, even those that believe themselves to be the most healthy, are suffering from nutritional deficiencies. So what can be done to prevent and reverse this problem? 

Steps to Reversing Deficiency:

1. Eat Organic Foods. Organic foods come from healthier, more nutrient dense soil which in turn yields higher nutrient content plants. Organic foods are also free of additives, colorings, taste enhances and toxic chemicals that interfere with the body's ability to utilize nutrients and increases the amount of toxicity present in the body.

2. Eat Live Foods. Foods that are alive are still in their natural state, having all their nutrients still 100% in tact. Nutrients begin to be degraded when a foods are heated or processed, sometimes multiple times, from their original natural state. Eat foods in their living natural state and deficiency is impossible. A minimum of 50% living foods in your diet, to a most healthy ratio of 80% living foods in your diet will keep you at the highest levels of health.

3. Eat Whole Foods. Once a food has been degraded from its natural state, through processing or refining, its nutrient content has also been degraded and it becomes increasingly possible to become deficient when eating these foods. Keeping foods in their natural state, whole, keeps all of their valuable nutrients in tact.

4. Cleanse. Cleansing the body is a powerful tool in eliminating built up toxins and wastes while restoring deficiencies with a high concentration of nutrients. Cleansing does not mean taking a supplement or pill to "cleanse", a true cleanse is one built on living, raw foods and juices which infuse the body with powerful living nutrients, cleansing out waste and restoring deficiency. When you cleanse the right way you not only restore deficiencies but also cleanse the body of wastes and toxins, addressing both roots of health symptoms. Check out the Raw Vitality way of cleansing which addresses all the root causes of health problems through the use of live, nutrient dense foods, healthy stress management practices, consistent exercise, green living princicpals and medicinal herbs. 

When you address deficiency, toxicity and oxidative stress in the body you see health symptoms, you may have even lived with for years, suddenly vanish. You also attain and maintain strong and consistent levels of energy, clarity and health you never knew possible.

Raw Vitality is a holistic health system that provides you with all the tools, education and support you need to prevent and reverse chronic health conditions naturally. Raw Vitality teaches natural eating principals, healthy stress management practices, balanced, consistent, exercise, green living strategies and the use of medicinal herbs.  We teach and offer everything you need to restore and maintain your health in a natural and balanced way through ongoing group cleanses, holistic health workshops, teaching programs for industry professionals, cooking classes, individual cleanses, natural and organic products, education and support to help you heal and reach the highest levels of health and vitality!

Get a free taste of Raw Vitality with 10 Fresh, Fast & Healthy Raw Vitality Recipes at www.rawvitalitytotalhealth.com

Using Meditation to Heal, Balance & Revitalize

Meditation is a powerful tool to help you heal, sustain balance and revitalize you on all levels. In Raw Vitality we talk alot about the importance of healthy stress management in the prevention and reversal of chronic health conditions. We live in a stressful world, we cannot get away from it, but how we deal with that stress is extremely important. Often we don't realize the impact stress is having on us at a cellular level. We know stress ages us much more quickly, breaking down our cells and causing cellular changes that can lead to chronic health conditions. We know stress reduces the health of our immune system making us more susceptible to health problems. We also know stress interferes with our ability to function well mentally, it reduces our clarity and focus and makes us less effective in our work, relationships, parenting and personal life. 

Science continues to show time and time again that meditation is a powerful tool to help us manage stress effectively, reduce the stress impact on our body and mind, and now it has also shown that mediation actually increases our disease fighting genes, meaning it is an effective tool to prevent and reverse chronic health conditions. 

Researchers at Harvard Medical School discovered is that, in long-term practitioners of relaxation methods such as yoga and meditation, far more ''disease-fighting genes'' were active, compared to those who practiced no form of relaxation.

In particular, they found genes that protect from disorders such as pain, infertility, high blood pressure and even rheumatoid arthritis were switched on. The changes, say the researchers, were induced by what they call ''the relaxation effect'', a phenomenon that could be just as powerful as any medical drug but without the side effects. ''We found a range of disease-fighting genes were active in the relaxation practitioners that were not active in the control group,'' Dr Herbert Benson, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, who led the research, says. The good news for the control group with the less-healthy genes is that the research didn't stop there.

The experiment, which showed just how responsive genes are to behaviour, mood and environment, revealed that genes can switch on, just as easily as they switch off. ''Harvard researchers asked the control group to start practising relaxation methods every day,'' says Jake Toby, hypnotherapist at London's BodyMind Medicine Centre, who teaches clients how to induce the relaxation effect. ''After two months, their bodies began to change: the genes that help fight inflammation, kill diseased cells and protect the body from cancer all began to switch on.''

More encouraging still, the benefits of the relaxation effect were found to increase with regular practice: the more people practiced relaxation methods such as meditation or deep breathing, the greater their chances of remaining free of arthritis and joint pain with stronger immunity, healthier hormone levels and lower blood pressure.

Health Benefits of Meditation include:

INCREASED IMMUNITY

EMOTIONAL BALANCE

INCREASED FERTILITY

RELIEF OF IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME

LOWERED BLOOD PRESSURE

ANTI-INFLAMATORY

CALMNESS

If you would like to learn how to use meditation as a tool to reduce stress, heal your body and as a natural preventative health tool you can use the Raw Vitality 30-day meditation program that is included in the Raw Vitality 30-day Holistic Cleanse & Total Health Transformation program. This meditation program is designed to help individuals learn how to use meditation in a way to increase their health and well being. It is perfect for those who have no experience with meditation but is also a great tool for those who wish to become more consistent in their meditation practice. 

For more information visit www.rawvitalitytotalhealth.com or email therawvitalitycleanse@gmail.com for more information. 

Raw Vitality provides you with the tools, education, support & motivation you need to get and stay healthy naturally!  We teach and offer everything you need to restore and maintain your health in a natural and balanced way through holistic health programs and cleanses, natural and organic products, education and support to help you heal and reach the highest levels of health and vitality!

Get a free taste of Raw Vitality with 10 Fresh, Fast & Healthy Raw Vitality Recipes at www.rawvitalitytotalhealth.com

Green Living Tips for Prevention

Whether our intention is to live in a pure world or not, the fact is we live in a toxic world. The habits we have become accustomed to:  quick, convenience foods; conventional farming methods; transportation methods; and commercial personal care and household products all contribute to a toxic environment, externally and internally. It is estimated that there are 21,000 toxic chemicals in the water we drink and 4,000 toxic chemicals in the air we breathe. There are 77,000 chemicals currently produced in North America, over 3,000 chemicals that are added to our food supply, over 10,000 chemical solvents, emulsifiers and preservatives used in food processing and 1,000 new chemicals are introduced each year into our lives. The effects of this toxicity are profound.

A report by the Columbia University School of Public Health estimates that 95% of cancer is caused by diet and environmental toxicity. Most Americans have between 400 - 800 chemicals stored in their bodies, typically in fat cells. This is because the body uses fat to neutralize toxins. A report compiled by the CDC in 2009 stated that there are at least 212 toxins lodged in human tissues and circulating throughout our systems, many of which are carcinogens. Some of the short and long-term effects of these toxins include:

Neurological disorders (Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, depression, attention deficit disorder, schizophrenia, etc.) Cancer Nutritional deficiencies Hormonal imbalances

Enzyme dysfunction Altered metabolism Reproductive disorders Fatigue Headaches Obesity

Muscle and vision problems Immune system depression Allergies/Asthma Endocrine disorders Chronic viral infections Less ability to tolerate/handle stress

The decisions we make every day contribute to the environment and planet in which we live. When we make healthy, green living choices our environment evolves into the same, however when we opt for convenience and the status quo, we continue to contribute to a toxic environment which leads to a toxic body and sets the stage for chronic health conditions and diseases. 

So how do we assist in creating an environment, planet and body that is pure and toxin free? Here are some easy Green Living tips you can put into practice today to reduce your exposure to toxins:


1. Eat Organic - Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Foods are produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Organic foods are completely free of all chemicals, including herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, larvacides and food additives, all of which are toxic to living beings and our planet. Pesticides, herbicides and food additives have all been linked to numerous health problems, including cancer, nervous system disorders, birth defects, alterations in DNA, liver, kidney, lung and reproductive problems, weakened immune systems, allergies, hyperactivity in children and neurotoxicity resulting in poor concentration and reduced mental functioning and clarity. In 1987, The National Academy of Sciences concluded that in your lifetime, conventional foods will cause more than a million additional cases of cancer. These poisons are especially harmful to small children and their developing bodies. Organic foods also contribute to the health of the soil and water and increase the nutrient content of foods while decreasing toxic pollution of our land and water supply. 


2. Choose Green Household Products - The products you use in and around your home have a direct impact on your health. The average american uses about 25 gallons of "TOXIC" or "HAZARDOUS" chemical products per year in their home. A major portion of these can be found in household cleaning products. The most acutely dangerous cleaning products are corrosive drain cleaners, oven cleaners, and acidic toilet bowl cleaners. Labels that come with detailed warnings stating, "Danger" or "Poison" are good indications that these products are not safe. Once used in your home, these products are flushed down the drain and end up in our environment. In a May 2002 study of contaminants in stream water samples across the country, the U.S. Geological Survey found persistent detergent metabolites in 69% of streams tested. Sixty-six percent contained disinfectants. Garden and lawn products also pose a potential risk. A study found children in homes where household and garden pesticides are used, have a sevenfold greater chance of developing childhood leukemia. Look for products that are biodegradable and toxin free. Seventh Generation is a good brand. http://www.seventhgeneration.com/products

3. Buy Organic Personal Care Products - The average American woman uses about 12 personal care products per day, the average man 6. Each product containing about a dozen or so chemicals which equates to about 150 toxic chemicals being used on your body DAILY. Some of these chemicals are carcinogens others are neurotoxins while others still are reproductive toxins, but only about 20% of all body care products have been tested for their health effects. That leaves 80% of personal care product chemicals whose effects are completely unknown. Choose products that are completely natural, this means having ingredients that you know and are familiar with. Buy from companies whose commitment is to the preservation of health in every way. Most importantly READ LABELS! Companies who are committed to natural products make it well known on their labels such as "cruelty free, paraben free, eco friendly" and other environmentally and health safe labels. 


4. Eat Whole - Foods that are processed or refined, meaning they come in abox, can, package or other container are filled with additives, preservatives and other food chemicals. It is estimated that American spend about 90% of their food budget on processed and refined foods, which means 90% of what you eat is contaminated with toxic chemicals. The effect of processed versus natural foods effect on the immune system was tested and documented. It was found, the intake of processed foods so disturbed the pattern of white blood cells of the immune system, that the disturbed pattern of the cells looked identical as the white blood cell patterns seen in infections. Further found, when processed meats were ingested, such as hot dogs and salami, the white blood cell pattern looked the same as is seen in sever food poisoning. Yuck! Stick with foods that are whole and have only 1 ingredient, that food! For instance the ingredients in a head of lettuce: lettuce, in an orange: orange. when you do have to buy a canned, boxed or packaged food make sure it is organic and read the labels. If there are words you cannot pronounce or do not know, put it back on the shelf. With a little bit of practice and awareness it is easy to switch to a 100% whole food diet. Fresh made organic tomato sauce is so much better then that jarred stuff anyway. 

5. Cleanse - No matter how conscious you are about your own personal lifestyle the fact is we live in a toxic environment. As the body is overwhelmed with toxic substances, food chemicals and additives, stress, negative thinking, poor nutritional choices such as unhealthy fats, sugar and processed foods it begins to slow and is unable to effectively eliminate the amount of toxicity that is being brought into the body. The un-eliminated toxins begin to accumulate, mostly within the fatty tissues in the body and organs and there they remain. These retained toxins slow down body processes and systems depleting energy, clouding the mind and causing health symptoms to begin to emerge. The impact over time on the mind, body, body organs, systems and processes is substantial and detrimental. Cleansing is one of the best approaches to preventative health care and an important component in a healthy, natural lifestyle. 


The benefits of cleansing include:

• Increased energy
• Better sleep
• Improved digestion
• Reduced allergies
• Weight Loss
• Disease prevention
• Health Symptom Reversal

Raw Vitality is beginning a 30-day group cleanse on Monday July 14th! This 30-day journey that will not only transform your body, but will transform your health and life forever!

Raw Vitality is a 30-day holistic health cleanse that targets all the key areas of health to create the highest levels of energy, radiant beauty and vibrant health! In 30-days you will purify your body, restore deficiencies, create healthy, natural eating practices, a consistent exercise routine, healthy stress management and balanced lifestyle practices.

Raw Vitality Includes:

• Whole, Organic Foods (30 days of receipes 3 meals/day)
• Fresh, Nutrient Rich Juices (30 days of receipes)
• Holistic Lifestyle Refinement
• Optimization of Digestion
• Healthy Stress Management
• Wellness Coaching
• Consistent, Balanced Exercise
• Cleansing Medicinal Herbs

Find out more about our July group cleanse here: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/raw-vitality-cleanse-july-2014-tickets-11087554173

Beat Stress Naturally by Heading Outdoors

Managing stress in a healthy way is the of the key principals to a naturally healthy life. Stress is an inevitable part of our lives, we can't get away from it, however we can implement tools to help us manage it in a healthy way and decrease its impact on our physical, mental and emotional health. One of the most powerful ways to decrease the stress impact on your health is to spend more time outdoors. Researchers are discovering that surrounding yourself with nature can be one of the most powerful stress-relievers out there.

Lowers Stress Hormones

In a recent study published in the journal Landscape and Urban Planning, scientists measured the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in 25 healthy adults in Scotland. Those who lived in the areas with the most amount of green space had lower levels of cortisol, and they reported feeling less stress than those who spent more time in urban settings.

When it comes to reducing stress, there's just something about being in our natural element that's hard to beat, says lead study author Catharine Ward Thompson, director of the OPENspace Research Centre at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Being in wide open spaces mean more opportunities to increase your health and vitality and here's why...

More Exercise 

Being outdoors means more exercise. Exercise is the best natural mood booster. Combine that with fresh air, sunshine and wide open spaces and your mood is boosted exponentially. Exercise is one of the best relievers and being outdoors helps to calm your nervous system, regulate internal body systems and detox, bringing more clarity and vitality. "Take advantage of opportunities to visit a green space as often as possible, even if only for five minutes, to help enhance your wellbeing and reduce your stress levels," says Thompson.

More Sunshine

Sunshine is also a natural mood booster and stress reliever. Many of our internal systems are regulated by your body’s circadian rhythms which aligns your physiology with the external environment. Your internal clock does much more than just help you sleep in the evening. Dr. Mercola says, "Your body actually has many internal clocks - in your brain, lungs, liver, heart and even your skeletal muscles - and they all work to keep your body running smoothly by controlling temperature and the release of hormones, some of which impact your mood. Your circadian rhythm depends on receiving sunlight at the right times (during the day) in order to function properly. If you do not get much sunlight when your body is expecting it - for example because you’re inside working all day or the weather is cold and cloudy - it can easily lead to changes in your brain that will negatively impact your mood."

Research also clearly shows that vitamin D is absolutely critical for good health and disease prevention. Vitamin D affects your DNA through vitamin D receptors, which bind to specific locations of the human genome. Scientists have identified nearly 3,000 genes that are influenced by vitamin D levels, and vitamin D receptors have been found throughout the human body.

Less Toxicity

We get rid of 80% of the toxins in our body through out breath, yet most of us breathe too shallow. Meaning most of us are keeping too many of these toxins in our body. Toxins inside the body harm cells and body functions and can cause you to feel more tension, stress and irritation. Being outdoors and engaging in some form of exercise, like walking, stimulates you to breathe more deeply and release more of these toxins. 

Five minutes outside is all it takes get the mood-boosting effect, according to a 2010 study in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. Researchers found that people experienced the largest boosts to their mood and self-esteem after just spending five minutes outside doing some form of light exercise, like walking.


In the Raw Vitality holistic health program we recommend outdoor walking, deep breathing exercise and consistent balanced movement and exercise each and every day for these very reasons. The Raw Vitality program is designed to teach you all of the tools you need to keep your body naturally balanced and healthy and can also begin to reverse any chronic health symptoms. Join us for our upcoming group cleanse beginning July 14th. Learn more about the group cleanse here: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/raw-vitality-cleanse-july-2014-tickets-11087554173

Raw Vitality provides you with the tools, education, support & motivation you need to get and stay healthy naturally!  We teach and offer everything you need to restore and maintain your health in a natural and balanced way through holistic health programs and cleanses, natural and organic products, education and support to help you heal and reach the highest levels of health and vitality!

Get a free taste of Raw Vitality with 10 Fresh, Fast & Healthy Raw Vitality Recipes at www.rawvitalitytotalhealth.com

10 Ways to Care for Yourself When you Are Feeling Burnt Out

Stress is an inevitable part of life. Career, family, friends, taking time for YOU, it is hard not to have some stress in today's busy ways of living. If we cannot get away from stress then we must learn how to manage stress in a way that reduces the negative physical and mental impacts it can have on us. Learning to manage stress in a healthy way is vital to overall long term health and wellbeing. Stress not managed in a healthy way can have a severe impact on your health and body, making you age internally as much as 32 years beyond your calendar age! Remember YOU are important too and taking time to care for yourself is one of the best ways to show self love and care. 

We loved this article posted in the Elephant Journal on 10 tips to care for yourself when you are feeling burnt out. Original article can be found here: http://www.elephantjournal.com/2014/03/10-ways-to-take-care-of-ourselves-when-were-suffering-from-burn-out/

10 Simple Things To Do When We’re In Over Our Heads.

1. Community. Hanging out with friends helps us feel better. Spending time with actual human beings boosts our mood. It energises us, even if it’s people we don’t really know, at the local café. Sharing smiles with people gives us a lasting warm fuzzy.

2. Take breaks. No one can thrive when we’re sitting at the computer for hours on end, all day long. Take a five minute break every hour. Walk to the water cooler and rehydrate, do 10 jumping jacks, do a deep forward bend, walk to the break room and refill your coffee cup, have a quick phone chat with a friend or step outside and take a peek at the sky.

3. Get enough fresh air and sunshine. This is important, especially in the wintertime. Spending time outside breaks up the monotony and reconnects us to nature. An easy way to “cheat” is to walk or bike to work. If we have to bus or car commute, park a few blocks away from the office. If we work at home, a quick walk around the block will suffice. If it’s cold, bundle up. There are really no excuses when it comes to being outside and enjoying the day at least a little bit.

4. Eat food cooked with love. Make sure to eat enough veggies. Eat real food and avoid processed and packaged food. Have a snack— if you’re experiencing mood-faliure, get your blood sugar up.

5. Meditate. Practice sitting meditation every day for at least 10 minutes. If you’re too busy, meditate for one hour. Our minds are made for thinking. Consciously taking a break from our thoughts heals stress on many levels. I meditate every day for 10 minutes, first thing in the morning. It makes me feel like I’m cloaked in a protective blanket all day long.

6. Exercise. Our bodies are made to move. People have a lot of energy and sitting still for too long can drive us stir crazy. Exercise, even a little bit, is important everyday. It releases negativity and makes us feel good. It gets our heart pumping and our lungs breathing. My favorite ways to exercise are walking the dog, biking, hiking, yoga, dancing, skiing, snow shoveling, gardening and sex.

7. House Plants. It’s nice to share space with other living things. House plants are natural air filters. They live on water and sunlight. That’s affordable! They bring relaxing and cheerful energy to a room. They are quiet. If you have to vent, houseplants are good listeners.

8. Stretch. Practicing yoga, even a little bit, breaks up the” fuzz” between our muscles and fascial tissue. A good stretch can give us the “space” we need to buckle down and take care of our responsibilities.

9. Get enough sleep. Our bodies are rejuvenated with a good night’s sleep. Enjoy a relaxing ritual before bed, to ensure a restful night. Have a cup of chamomile tea, meditate, take a hot epsom salt bath, or read for 15 minutes.

10. Laugh. Read something funny. Talk to someone funny. Watch a funny video. Amuse yourself. Laughter really is the best medicine.

In today’s busy world, it’s easy for anyone to feel overwhelmed; using creative solutions to deal with stress can help us prevent burnout.

Raw Vitality provides you with the tools, education, support & motivation you need to get and stay healthy naturally!  We teach and offer everything you need to restore and maintain your health in a natural and balanced way through holistic health programs and cleanses, natural and organic products, education and support to help you heal and reach the highest levels of health and vitality!

Get a free taste of Raw Vitality with 10 Fresh, Fast & Healthy Raw Vitality Recipes at www.rawvitalitytotalhealth.com

Eating on the Go is Making You Fat

How relaxing and pleasing it sounds to sit down for a nourishing meal, to have the ability to enjoy every bite, engage in stimulating conversation about the days events and connect to the ones we love. It sounds amazing because that is how we where intended to eat and enjoy our foods. Eating isn't all about just physical nourishment, but it is also about emotional and psychological nourishment. Culturally, for thousands of years eating has been an event meant to connect, inspire and nourish people and families at the deepest of levels. In our go-go-go ways of living we have lost that connection with eating and often tend to view eating as a necessity to get nutrients and nothing more, we have lost the connection with eating's deeper meaning and purpose. Is it any wonder then we find ourselves as a culture addicted to "emotional eating?" It isn't surprising because we are no longer gaining the emotional satisfaction we where meant to gain from our meals and eating so it is natural to seek it in other ways.

Most meals today are eaten on the go. Meals are eaten in cars, while doing other tasks (aka working at your desk while chowing down your lunch), grabbing dinner on the way to kids practice or evening meetings, any of this sound familiar? Not only does this eliminate all the other aspects we where intended to get from eating (emotional and physiological connection and satisfaction) but it is in fact making us fat! Everything in our health and well being works together as a synergistic whole. We where meant to take time to nourish ourselves at meals not only to satisfy us on all levels, but also because our digestion is a process that takes time and works best under relaxing conditions and because it reduces stress hormones in the body that lead to weight gain. When we bypass the natural ways of the body, we end up with unwanted consequences, in this case, unwanted pounds.

Here are 3 ways Eating on the Go is Making You Fat...

1. Increased Stress Hormones = Increased Fat

When we eat in rushed and hurried ways we put our body in a state of stress. Being in a state of stress increases the body's hormone Cortisol. Cortisol has been termed the "stress hormone" because excess cortisol is secreted during times of physical or psychological stress, which disrupts the normal pattern of cortisol in the body. This disruption of cortisol not only promotes weight gain, but it can also affect where you put on the weight. Some studies have shown that stress and elevated cortisol tend to cause fat deposition in the abdominal area rather than in the hips. This fat deposition has been referred to as "toxic fat" since abdominal fat deposition is strongly correlated with the development of cardiovascular disease including heart attacks and stroke.

2. Decreased Digestion = Increased Fat

Digestion is one of the most important processes in the body, consuming 80% of all available energy. It is also the strongest link to healthy metabolism and a naturally balanced weight.  Eating in a state of stress, aka rushing around to your next activity, activates the "flight or fight" response in your central nervous system, causing digestion to shut down because your central nervous system shuts down blood flow, affects the contractions of your digestive muscles, and decreases secretions needed for digestion. This means your mean is not digested well, meaning more of it gets stored as fat instead of effectively processed. Eating in a state of stress can also cause inflammation of the gastrointestinal system, and make you more susceptible to infection.

3. Increased Emotional Eating = Increased Fat

Eating is meant to be a time we nourish ourselves physically as well as emotionally. When we don't take the time to make a meal, sit down and enjoy it with the people we love or even just ourselves, we do not get the emotional nourishment we are intended to get from our meals. This leaves us emotionally deficient, and anytime we are deficient in anything we seek it elsewhere. This is one of the areas that contributes to the cycle of emotional eating. Emotional eating quickly increases weight because it is not food we need, but excess and excess is always stored as fat.

Raw Vitality provides you with the tools, education, support & motivation you need to get and stay healthy naturally!  We teach and offer everything you need to restore and maintain your health in a natural and balanced way through holistic health programs and cleanses, natural and organic products, education and support to help you heal and reach the highest levels of health and vitality!

Get a free taste of Raw Vitality with 10 Fresh, Fast & Healthy Raw Vitality Recipes at www.rawvitalitytotalhealth.com