Lisa Barwise

When we think about a vegetarian diet, we often connect it with the health of our physical body. For those who are concerned with optimizing their health, vegetarianism is now being promoted by many medical doctors who claim that this diet provides optimum nutrition and guards against many diseases caused by non-vegetarian foods. What, then, is the relationship of vegetarianism to spirituality? As spirituality relates to the spirit, then what connection would our spiritual essence have to the foods we eat? Although diet is commonly considered a matter of physical health alone, since the Hermetic principle “as above, so below” is a fundamental truth of the cosmos, diet is a crucial aspect of emotional, intellectual, and spiritual development. For diet and consciousness are interrelated, and purity of diet is an effective aid to purity and clarity of consciousness. There are other benefits to vegetarianism to help our mind and soul. Spirituality is not only concerned with our own inner development. It is a way of living in which we also have love and concern for all other life in creation. Spirituality involves bringing us closer to our true nature. Our true self is one with God. When God has created…

You know I get asked this a lot and there is a simple and easy answer to it. Unfortunately when it comes to talking about anything that’s important to you as your values and ethics, it can quickly turn into a heated subject.  I have learned over the years that usually this questions comes at a dinner table when you are surrounded by meat eaters and you have ordered something different to them and they feel either uncomfortable about their choices (in terms of health or weight loss) or they are trying to flirt/tease me! (oh yes) So, I usually preface the answer with : ‘Do you really want to know? The reason I ask is that when I give my answer most people can get upset or defensive and I really just want to enjoy my dinner!” If said in a lighthearted, jokey manner I can sometimes diffuse a sticky situation and make light of it, or it just makes them more curious. If prompted I then say, “I do not believe in violence against animals and I believe we are evolved enough to not need them to live healthy lives and we no longer need to choose to…

Cucumber helps the body flush out toxins because it contains the organic compound citrulline, which is an amino acid that has been shown to help the liver and kidneys filter and get rid of ammonia. Ammonia comes in external forms, but is also a by-product of the proteins our bodies are burning up constantly for energy, and it’s quite damaging to our cells. Water is just plain good for us, but it’s thought that it helps flush nasty toxins and waste through our system, giving organs like the liver and kidney an easier time doing their job. Lemon or lime juice helps stimulate and regulate the digestive track (which is why it’s so helpful with constipation, heartburn and gas), stimulates bile production, and thins out bile, which allows it to flow more freely. Bile is produced by the liver and ends up in the small intestine to break down lipids (fats) that we’ve consumed.   Mint leaves are a nice refreshing flavor to add to your drink. On top of that, it can help you digest more effectively, improving the flow of bile from the liver, to the gallbladder, to the small intestine, where it breaks down dietary fats. Mint…

About 3 years ago after going to see a kinesiologist practitioner, I was told I had a leaky gut. I knew I had problems close to what the average person would call IBS but I just didn’t know the extend of what was going on. Basically, no matter how well I was eating, my gut was no allowing it to be absorped properly. Later I found out this was very similiar to what happens when I eat gluten. It was at this point I started to look for different ways to look after my gut! The best way to ensure you are digesting the healthy food you are putting in- which also means that you are more efficiently dealing with waste and remove the ‘congestion in the digestion’ this not only helps with fatloss but just overall health and wellbein,- you can try these things: 1. Probiotics: I take a fos a dophillus capsule everyday- you can get one from your local health shop By way of the National Institutes of Health: “Probiotics are live microorganisms that are similar to beneficial microorganisms found in the human gut. They are also called ‘friendly bacteria’ or ‘good bacteria. The idea is that…

Most people know and understand the many health benefits of leading an active lifestyle that includes regular exercise. Exercise can benefit anywhere from increased lean muscle mass to improved bone density to better flexibility and better aerobic and anaerobic capacity. What most don’t know is that there is one significant detrimental effect of exercise… Exercise induced oxidative stress. Exercise induced oxidative stress increases as exercise becomes more rigorous. Oxidative stress can significantly impact body repair and recovery post-exercise and as a result, hinder optimum performance. However, individuals can markedly reduce their oxidative stress and the impact it has on the body through proper nutrition. With proper nutrition, individuals can ensure the maximum health benefits from their exercise regime. Watch below about what a world class athlete has to say about the importance of eating more fruits and vegetables and the role that Juice Plus+ can play in improving one’s health and well being. Juice Plus+’s ability to reduce exercise oxidative stress is proven and published in sports and nutrition journals. Proper nutrition can enhance your physical performance and ensure you are getting the maximum health benefits from your physical activity. Here’s what a world-class athlete has to say about Juice…