I was recently asked the question ‘What nourishes you?’ and I took pause for a moment to really think about the question. When I think about nourishing my authentic self, first of all, I really have to separate myself from all the conditioning I have grown up with and been surrounded by my entire life. It is tuning out the voices that are from the outside world telling me what I need to do or be. It involves separating myself from everyone’s opinions but my own. It is trusting the inner voice inside of myself that speaks to me in every moment. It is honoring my own unique expression in this life no matter that it may not match other’s ideas about what I should be doing with my time or energy.

Nourishing myself means doing those activities that feel good to me; in the physical sense it means preparing whole foods on a daily basis, choosing fresh organic produce that has the most life energy. Taking the time to really mindfully prepare my food, eat my food, give thanks for it, give thanks for all the invisible people that were involved with getting it to my table- the growers, farmers, workers, transporters, etc. It means drinking filtered water and making a beautiful cup of herbal tea. It means knowing that this food nurtures and heals my body and marveling at the amazement of that; being thankful and knowing that all is well!

What activities nourish me? Because I am an empath, I have to say I need a lot of alone time to restore my spirit. I need to fill myself up by taking some silent time for rest, contemplation, meditation, reading spiritual books- this is a necessity for me…I belong to a meditation group that is very important to me; these people hold similar beliefs to me and appreciate the same values that I hold true to my heart. Being held in a circle of unconditional support is healing to my heart and soul. Spending time with my family is incredibly nourishing to me. The love that I feel for them is beyond description.

Nourishing me requires a big hit of nature. I always take time to go the mountains or at least go farther from the downtown core where I can find a stream, hear the wind in the trees, or have a canopy of trees around me; being in nature harmonizes my frequency like nothing else- no phones required. It allows me to recalibrate to a more serene setting so when I go back into the downtown core, I can start to harmonize the environment around me and bring more serenity to each and everyone around me.

How do you authentically express your spirit in a way that nourishes you? Expressing your spirit is paramount to leaving your mark on the world. This can be a big or small expression or even very subtle; perhaps a comment made that lifts another individual up. Just noting that your life is not about you rather about how many people’s lives you touch in a positive way using the authentic expression of your spirit is important to note. This last question can be contemplated or reflected upon, refined and then revealed as you begin to know more about yourself and get in touch with your authentic spirit. What feels good to you? What do you have passion for? Do more of that!! (Writing is a form that I choose to express my spirit in.) How do you nourish yourself and express your authentic self? Please leave a comment to let me know!!!!

When I went to school to become a naturopathic doctor, we certainly did extensive study on nutrition however I don’t remember a strong emphasis on having a balanced pH or perhaps I missed those classes. I realize now how important acid/alkaline balance is for optimal health. Every person that comes through my office doors has one thing in common>>they are consuming a diet too high in acid foods. In fact, western culture as a whole consume far more acid foods (~80%) than alkaline foods (~20%). Ideally, our diet would have 60-80% coming from alkaline foods and only 20-40 % coming from acid foods. What is pH anyways and why does it matter?

pH stands for potential of hydrogen (the measurement of hydrogen ions in  a particular solution)  and the acid/alkaline balance relates to the chemistry of your body’s fluid and tissues. This relationship between acid and alkaline is quantified on a scale of 0-14 with a pH of 7 being neutral, pH of less than 7 classified as acidic and a pH above 7 classified as alkaline. Optimal blood pH is ~7.365 so slightly alkaline. When a food is metabolized, an acid or base is left. Our diet should contain more alkaline foods to promote a slightly alkaline pH.

Alkaline foods include all the green veggies especially the leafy variety> think kale, collards, bok choy, lettuce, spinach. All the brassicas are alkalinizing and cancer fighting> think broccoli, cauliflower, kale, watercress, turnips, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi. Raw tomatoes are alkaline but cooked are acidic. All grasses including wheatgrass are alkaline. Root vegetables are alkaline such as sweet potatoes, white potatoes (not french fries), radishes, and all other vegetables such as sweet peppers, celery, carrots, etc. Beans and peas are considered to be alkalizing as well. There are many resources online to give you a comprehensive list of alkaline foods. Raw almonds are alkalinizing. Grains are more acidic but two that are considered more neutral or slightly alkaline include millet and buckwheat. Stevia is a sweetener that is considered alkaline.

Deep breathing and meditation support a more alkaline environment.

Acid foods which contribute to a more acidic pH include animal protein >red meat, poultry, fish, dairy products (cheese, yogurt, milk, etc), coffee, tea, sugar, nuts (moreso if salted, roasted), refined grains, rice, oats, wheat, legumes such as soybeans, chick beas, black beans, sugar, vinegars (except apple cider). Anything processed is acidic, alcohol, condiments, soy sauce. Fruits are more acidic although lemons, limes, and grapefruit are more alkaline in function and thus contribute to a more alkaline pH. Dried fruits are acidic. Drugs and cigarettes are acidic as is a lifestyle full of stress. I’ll write more about pH next time. Until next time, eat more veggies…

1. Do a life review – the first step is to review your life and look at the path you have taken. Did messages of what you should do or should not do influence your path? Look for anything that was significant about your life; key decisions you made, health setbacks, traumas. What were you interested in when you were young?
2. Spend time in contemplation and get connected. Whatever makes you feel connected, seek that out daily. For some people this might be daily meditation, daily exercise, walks in nature, listening to music, etc. Whatever makes you feel at peace and more connected, do that. In this quiet contemplative space will many insights lie; create time in your day for this spirit centered time.
3. Get clear on your own present picture of who you are. If this is tough for you to do, write a list of you who you are not first. Start with things that you can say are definitely true for you. For example: My favorite color is blue. What do you like to do with your time? If you had a day all to yourself, how would you choose to spend it? What are things that are unique or quirky about you? Do you consider yourself a morning person or night person or both? What kind of music do you like? What kind of diet suits you best- raw foods, cooked foods, small frequent meals? These answers must come from you only and not outside influences or what you think you should like.
4. What factors support your growth and allow you to thrive? Developing your personal awareness is key. How can you best stay in balance with yourself?
5. What do you fear is inside of you? Face this and you will be set free. Generally this is a major obstacle to loving and accepting yourself. You may not even know what this is right now.
6. Rid yourself of old outdated belief systems that restrict your personal freedom. Look at core beliefs that you carry. Ie. The universe is not a safe place. Try to let go of black and white thinking constructs.
7. What are new belief systems that support who you truly are?
8. Say yes to everything – self exploration requires that you participate in your life. Don’t limit your experience. Where do you limit the amount of well being that can flow to you in your life? Where do you cut off nourishment (love) from flowing to you? How can you open up to receiving more nourishment (love) in your life?
9. Take the time to connect with your intuition when you make decisions. Check in with yourself and learn to trust your inner voice. Take action steps directed by your inner voice.
10. Be empowered in your life. You are capable of healing anything in your life. Healing does not always mean curing but often your health improves just by agreeing to take this journey and your happiness quotient expands exponentially.