Friday, April 5, 2013

A LIFE CHANGER

Personal and spiritual growth is my life’s work. However, one thing has become abundantly clear – you need a body to do the work. And, the more robust and vital the body is the better chance you have in achieving your goals. To that end, I want to recommend the unfortunately titled book, The Science of Skinny, which can be easily found here: http://www.amazon.com/Science-Skinny-Understanding-Chemistry---Dieting/dp/0738215570/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1365170924&sr=1-1&keywords=the+science+of+skinny I call the title unfortunate because the book is not really about weight loss but the science that undermines our food production in the 21st century. It was not the original title of the book, by the way. I believe an editor or publisher changed the title because “weight loss” books sell better than “good health” books. (An unfortunate commentary on our societal values.) A WORD OF CAUTION: Please do NOT let the scientific explanations in the first chapters turn you off. If they aren’t of that much interest to you, just skim them so that you can have an overview of what is going on. Then “soldier on” until Chapter 10 which begins to bring the material into some order for your use. (If you jump to Chapter 10 without at least an minimal understanding of what is going on, it will not resonate as well with you.) For those of you just beginning your nutritional journey, some of this may be shocking to you. Another reason to understand the scientific reality underlying the premise of the book. I realize that for many of you I may be “preaching to the Choir”, and that you already know this material. (I, for one, did not learn anything new as I was blessed with a remarkable instructor in Nutrition school who was way before his time in warning about the dangers of low-fat diets, low-carb diets, and soy.) However, this book has put together, in a succinct manner, the science that is behind the nutrition and has done so in an orderly way. Although I didn’t learn anything new, I did get reminded of some things that had slipped through the cracks over the years. For those of us in an older generation, I think moving to a processed-free living format can dramatically extend and effect our quality of life. For those of you who are younger, it can change your whole life’s experience. And, for those of you guiding young children along life’s journey, I enthusiastically urge you to read this book. There is a great section on dealing with children and recipes just for kids. If you are set in your ways, I still urge you to make whatever small changes you can. As Maharishi once said, “Even a dirty cloth that is dipped into water but one time is not as dirty as it had once been.” Meaning – even the smallest of changes can make a big difference. I offer you this material with the greatest of wishes that you have a happy, healthy, vital and joyful life. With my deep love, JOAN