Discovering Whole Person INTEGRATIVE EATING
Alternative Medicine|February 2021
The idea to explore a multidimensional, ancient-food-wisdom approach to food and eating had its genesis in New Delhi, India, where my co-author and husband, behavioral scientist Larry Scherwitz, Ph.D., had been invited to present at the First International Conference on Lifestyle and Health. While there, I had the opportunity to interview clinical cardiologist Dr. K. L. Chopra—father and mentor of Deepak Chopra, M.D., who is an integrative medicine and personal-transformation pioneer—about a magazine article I was intending to write on yoga and diet.
Discovering Whole Person INTEGRATIVE EATING

When I asked Dr. Chopra about this, his response was immediate: “Prana is the vital life force of the universe, the cosmic force . . . and it goes into you, into me, with food. When you cook with love, you transfer the love into the food and it is metabolized . . . In former days (based on the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita), the tradition was for the mother to cook the food with love and then feed it to the children; only then would she eat.”

Food and love. The thought wouldn’t let go. My thinking: if Hindus believe that loving awareness is somehow transmuted into food—and that we “ingest” this vital force when we eat— then possibly other spiritual traditions would have discovered this too. As a nutrition researcher, I was fascinated by the possibility that consciousness could alter the food we eat. And, I wondered, might it also influence the metabolism of food and in turn health and healing? To find out, I began what I call my “nutrition journey around the world.”

An Ancient Food Wisdom Odyssey: Moving Forward by Looking Back

For millennia prior to the birth of nutritional science in the twentieth century, humankind turned to the wisdom traditions—world religions, cultural traditions, and Eastern healing systems—for guidelines about what and how to eat. Given this, my quest led me to unearth and unravel cross-cultural food and nutrition guidelines, beliefs, and rituals from both the East and West. These include the following:

1. Major world religions (i.e., Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism)

2. Cultural traditions (i.e., yogic nutrition, African-American soul food, Native American beliefs, the Japanese Way of Tea, Chinese food folklore)

This story is from the February 2021 edition of Alternative Medicine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the February 2021 edition of Alternative Medicine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM ALTERNATIVE MEDICINEView All
Add These Healthy Routines to Your Day
Alternative Medicine

Add These Healthy Routines to Your Day

Holistic wellness focuses on the connection between mind, body, and spirit It isn’t just about treating symptoms; it seeks to find the root causes that create the issues. By living a more holistic lifestyle, you may be able to enhance your body’s natural ability to restore itself.

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2021
7 Tips To Promote Health And Well-being This Summer
Alternative Medicine

7 Tips To Promote Health And Well-being This Summer

During the warmer months, there’s often a great deal of shuffling and movement, including common allergy triggers like trees, pollen, mold spores, dust and dander along with pesky sinus pressure.

time-read
4 mins  |
August 2021
Global Food System
Alternative Medicine

Global Food System

Local Communities Empower a Resilient

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2021
How to look Your Best with SOFT AND BEAUTIFUL Senior Skin
Alternative Medicine

How to look Your Best with SOFT AND BEAUTIFUL Senior Skin

Maybe not everything improves with age, but one thing – healthy, vibrant skin – is not something that must be relinquished to younger years. Senior skin, needs special care. And if we treat our skin right as we age, healthy, vibrant skin can accompany us into our golden years.

time-read
4 mins  |
August 2021
IN SEASON: Green Beans
Alternative Medicine

IN SEASON: Green Beans

Green beans, also called snap beans or string beans, are a staple in many kitchens across the United States. They’re a beloved side dish at family potlucks, holiday meals, and nightly dinners. They are one on the most popular crops in backyard gardens.

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2021
MENTAL HEALTH PROS AND CONS OF WORKING FROM HOME
Alternative Medicine

MENTAL HEALTH PROS AND CONS OF WORKING FROM HOME

Over this last year many people made the switch from working in the office to working from home, but is this a healthy change?

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2021
COMMON LIFESTYLE FACTORS - That May Be Causing Your Heartburn
Alternative Medicine

COMMON LIFESTYLE FACTORS - That May Be Causing Your Heartburn

Warmer weather is here which means backyard BBQ’s, campfire cookouts, and picnics are right around the corner. But if you suffer from frequent heartburn, food-based get-togethers may not be your cup of tea. But before you turn down your invite or spend even more money on your handy antacids, it’s important to note it might not be all the food’s fault.

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2021
THE FIVE MOST IMPORTANT Lifestyle Practices for maintaining a HEALTHY BRAIN
Alternative Medicine

THE FIVE MOST IMPORTANT Lifestyle Practices for maintaining a HEALTHY BRAIN

More than 6 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease. As we age we become significantly at risk for declining brain health as one in nine people age 65 and older have dementia. This debilitating disease also affects women more than men at disproportionate numbers as two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women.

time-read
4 mins  |
August 2021
THE TALE OF TWO AGES: A Plan for Your Healthspan
Alternative Medicine

THE TALE OF TWO AGES: A Plan for Your Healthspan

For the longest time our age has been defined by the day we were born and the number of times we are fortunate enough to circle the sun.

time-read
5 mins  |
August 2021
What Is INSULIN RESISTANCE?
Alternative Medicine

What Is INSULIN RESISTANCE?

Have you heard of insulin resistance? One in three Americans suffer from this blood sugar-related syndrome, which can cause serious health issues including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, strokes, and even cancer.

time-read
4 mins  |
August 2021