holistic nutrition

If I could use just one word to sum up the philosophy of “holistic nutrition”, I would say “love”.   It is out of love that we care about each other, about the environment, about everything that we put in our body, mind and soul.  In the world of holistic healing or nutrition, we see man as a whole, as well as a part of the universe that is infinite and abundant in nature.  Since we are all created by the same Source and share the same life force (or energy), the well-being of all living organisms is interconnected.  So, we are not only what we eat, but also what we breathe, what we think, what we say and what we see.  

Mother Nature provides us with everything we need for life; the well-being of mankind and the environment depends on the harmony of this whole ecosystem.  What we put in the soil is used to nourish the plant that is used to feed the animals, who may end up in other animals’ stomach and at the end of their life cycle, the decayed body will become the organic matter of the soil.  When this natural cycle is disturbed or interrupted by man-made chemicals, genetically-modified crops, synthetic drugs/antibiotics/growth hormones, etc., the cycle goes out of balance and so are our bodies.  This is how diseases are built.  We do not catch diseases; we build them through poor diet and lifestyle, exposure to environmental toxins, emotional stress, and negative thoughts.  Having a strong immune and detoxification system is the best protection for any kind of pathogens like bacteria or viruses.  Without the right nutrients to fuel all biochemical mechanisms, such as the B vitamins for the nervous system at times of stress or magnesium for the over 300 enzymatic functions in the detoxification pathways, our defense ability is going to decline.  Symptoms are signals of imbalance.  When we eat contaminated food, we have diarrhea because the body wants to get rid of the harmful stuff.  Inflammation is the body’s way of reacting to an invader and preventing the spread of damaging agents to nearby tissues and sets the stage for repair.  

We are all biochemically, psychologically and spiritually unique and so are our nutritional needs.  For instance, tomatoes are well-known for their significant antioxidant protection for prostate cancer, heart disease, high cholesterol, colon cancer and diabetes; but as a member of the nightshade family, tomatoes may be a concern for people with arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or other joint problems like gout due to its alkaloid content.  Remember, one’s food may be another’s poison. In the holistic approach to healing, we address people’s individual needs by helping them to restore their self-healing abilities through various natural and non-invasive healing modalities like appropriate nutrition and supplementation, diet and lifestyle recommendations, energy re-alignment, proper detoxification protocols and many more.  

The word ‘holistic’ has its roots in the Greek holos or whole, and was used by Arthur Koestle to coin the word ‘holon’ in an attempt to grasp how systems act as wholes whilst still being parts of yet greater wholes.  It is stated in the book “Holistic Herbal” by David Hoffman, the renowned herbalist and President of the American Herbalist Guild and Director of the California School of Herbal Studies, that “Harmony is no longer simply a matter of right diet or even right herbs, but also a matter of right feelings, right thoughts, lifestyle, attunement, actions – harmony of right relationship to our world and ourselves.”

When we recognize that our pure presence is an emanation of love, we will make choices that align with our divinity physically, emotionally and spiritually.